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The 

Indian Runner 
Duck Book 

The Only Authoritative American 

Book about this 

Marvelous Egg Machine 



Text and Photographs 

by 

C. S. VALENTINE 



"They say she did !" 
"Who did?" 

"The Indian Runner Duck." 
"Did what?" 



I i 



Laid 320 eggs in one year." 



Second Edition 
Revised and Enlarged 

Price in Paper 75 cents post paid Cloth Edition $1.00, postage 5 cents 
RIDGEWOOD, N. J. 

F. H. VALENTINE 

1911 



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Copyright, 1911, by 
F. H. & C. S. VALENTINE 



The Runner a-running did trippingly run 

To help out the farmer and lads ; 

The mortgage wiped out and the College bills paid : 

Who says she shall rank 'mongst the fads ? 



Pte%t of 

ERNEST FAIRMAN DOW 

West NcwtOH, Massachusetts 



$los 



CI.A303722 

NO. f 




The White Queen.' 



The Indian Runner Duck Book 



THE INDIAN RUNNER 
DUCK BOOK 



CONTENTS 

Chapter 

I. Some Guesses and Some Facts About Indian Runners. 

II. English History, Views and Standard. 

III. The Present Show Quality of American Standard Indian 

Runners. 

IV. Comparison of English and American Types. 

V. The Indian Runners Making History in 1910. 

VI. The Indian Runners Making History in 191 1. 

VII. The Worst About the Indian Runner. 

VIII. -The Rest About the Indian Runner. 

IX. The Indian Runner and the Farm. 

X. Feeding Methods Safe for All. 

XI. System and Forethought in Making a Market. 

XII. Educating the Market. 

XIII. Selling and Cooking Value of Indian Runner Eggs. 

XIV. Some Spurious and Some Genuine Indian Runners. 

XV. The Future of the Indian Runners in America. 

XVI. The Newer Variety, the White Runner. 



Some Guesses and Some Facts About 
INDIAN RUNNERS 



CHAPTER I 

I think it was about 1904 or 1905 that the first important 
literature concerning the Indian Runner Ducks was published in 
this country. At about this time, good articles, dealing with the 
wonderful qualities of this new breed were published in at least 
three of our poultry periodicals. Soon, breeders, here and there, 
began to try them in a somewhat gingerly way, as though rather 
expecting a gold brick. The great service which this early litera- 
ture did the breed was to call public attention strongly to it, 
through what then seemed the exorbitant claims made for these 
birds as layers. 

After a few years Mr. Irving Cook took up this breed, 
advertising continuously and rather strikingly. As he began 
the work when young and enthusiastic, and, later, gave his en- 
tire strength to his Indian Runner business, the Runners soon 
found themselves in the midst of a "boom." But even before 
him several men who still breed the Runners were at work with 
this breed. 



As soon as the breed began to attract keen attention, some 
breeders who wished to improve it in every possible way began 
to make inquiries as to its origin. One early breeder who made 
every effort to get the true history about this time reports that 
even then "it seemed to be a matter of surmise. All the writers' 
ideas on the subject seemed to be vague, and many conflicting 
statements were made." Some of the causes for this haziness 
and conflict of statement I have been able to run down. 

Much misconception arose through an accident. The first 
two detailed descriptions of the breed which I noted in American 
publications were from writers across the big waters, one in 
New Zealand, the other in Ireland. Birds in these countries 
would naturally have come from England, and be of English 
type. H. DeCourcy's article was so straightforward and sen- 
sible, yet so conservative that it seemed to give the public good 
ground for confidence in the breed. Unfortunately, this early 
article gave the West Indies as the original home of the Indian 
Runner. This statement has been copied by many, while others 
have given a widely different origin. In a recent circular, the 
matter was disposed of in this way: "Coming originally from 
the West Indies, they are a cross of Rouen and Wild Mallard." 
Of the three supposed facts given here (W T est Indian origin, 
Rouen blood, Mallard blood,) probably not one could be proven, 
though the last might have some credibility through the fact that 
most breeds of ducks are descended from the Mallard. 

I have long suspected that the DeCourcy statement, as 
printed in this country, was an office, or "proof" error. Trying 
to get at the facts, I wrote to Mr. DeCourcy in October, 1910, 
inquiring if this were not the case. The reply was directly to 
the point: "If my article says 'West' it was a misprint, — or 
perhaps, a clerical error of mine." As the real, native home of 
the Indian Runner has long been believed to be the East Indies, 
it is quite easy to see how such an error could arise through 
the misplacement of a letter or two. At no other period except 

10 



when the breed was just being introduced could such an error 
have worked so much mischief as to the facts*. 

Among the early breeders here were Mr. Cook, Mr. Fay 
Davis, M. V. Decker and, in 1900, A. J. Hallock. Mr. W. 
Delano's name has also been given me as an early breeder, but 
I have been unable to gttt any information from tfois source. It 
will be admitted without question, I think, that our one reliance 
for the early history of the breed in this country must be the 
statements of the earliest breeders. 

While the "West Indies story" was going the rounds, with 
no one contradicting it, and gaining strength through repetition, 
the British birds were being quietly bred for some time, before 
the public began to awaken to the value of the Runners. The 
Davids brothers, of Kansas, began about 1902, Davis in 1897, 
Hallock in 1900. These three, I know, had their birds from 
Great Britain. I think there is no room for doubt that all the 
other early breeders had stock from the same source, either 
direct or through contemporary breeders. Since it appears that 
the earliest specimens here came from British sources, it seems 
to be only ordinary common-sense to take British testimony as 
to their origin. The English early history — as far as it is his- 
tory, and not supposition, at least — should be admitted to be the 
true history. At all events, the guesses and "impressions" of 
later breeders here, have absolutely no value. 

During the season of 191 1 not less than 300 breeders have 
been advertising Indian Runners. There may have been more, 
but I have a list showing this number. Seven years ago, Reliable 

* Although this book has passed through one edition, and although 
the Secretary of the Indian Runner Duck Club of England has for 
some time been advertising "new blood direct from the native Indian 
source," the West Indian story is still being given as to origin. Mr. 
T. F. McGrew, a man whose word is credited here, is saying that he 
has investigated, and that he "knows" whereof he speaks, and con- 
siders the American Standard bird all right. It thus becomes a ques- 
tion as to whom one will believe: the men who have known the birds 
for half a life-time and who claim also to have brought them recently 
from their native home, or one who thinks they do not know what they 
are talking about! 



I T 



Poultry Journal — for years, a favorite medium' with the duck 
breeders— carried only- .two Indian; Runner ■•advertisements- in 
May in the Classified lists. The Runners have appeared almost 
wholly in the classified lists ; since they seem, to have been almost 
universally welcomed as an accessory to other., breeds., of. fancy- 
fowls. At all ..events, they, have sold so easily .'that little but 
classified advertising has been necessary, apparently. 

One of the two who were thus advertising in' 1903 was 
Cook. In 1906 he blossomed out as the breeder of "the only" true 
fawn and white colors, and the world's heaviest laying strain." 
He had, then, five competitors in the classified column. Re- 
membering that this was Only five years ago, we may well be 
amazed at the advance which the Runners have so recently made 
in public favor. According to these figures, the fawn and white 
type became "the only true" just about five years ago. It may 
be remembered, also, that this was the year the Standard which 
breeders had followed since up to 1910, appeared. 

It would seem that, even in Great Britain, the Runners were 
not well and widely known so very much longer than they have 
been known here. In 1893, four years before Mr. Davis re- 
ceived his first birds, a book on poultry for profit was put out 
by a Britisher who had previously written another poultry book, 
and who might have been thought to be fairly well posted. He 
mentions only three breeds of ducks, but takes occasion to re- 
mark : "It is much to be regretted that no steps have been taken 
to breed laying strains of ducks." 

The history of the Runner in England, however, is easily 
to be followed back for about twenty-five years. If it becomes 
hazy as we go farther back, this need not surprise the Yankees 
who have managed so to conceal their tracks in something like 
fifteen years that in a new book advertised as the best in 
America, and giving sixteen entire lines to the Runners, it 
is plainly stated that the origin of these ducks cannot be traced 



12 



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authentically. But a Rouen cross is admitted. Was that Rouen 
cross a Yankee contribution ? 

If, as no one really doubts, the Indian Runner Ducks came 
to us from England, it would seem, indeed, the part of common- 
sense, and of courtesy no less, to accept the story of their origin 
as presented by the best and oldest English breeders. American 
cleverness, however, professes to have discovered that the Brit- 
ishers, no matter how decent people they be, are presumably 
equivocating about the origin of the Indian Runner Duck. 

The juxtaposition of a quasi- Yankee head and a Belgic 
head has brought up since 1900 a new story, to the effect that 
the Britishers did not get their Runners from East India or any 
other old place whence old sea-captains come out of obscurity, 
but just across the channel in Belgium! But they have care- 
lessly omitted to tell us how it happened that when those Belgian 
ducks flew ( ?) across the channel, they happened to light in 
County Cumberland, away oft" to the north-west, as far as pos- 
sible from Belgium. Frankly, I think this story very far- 
fetched. For, the English certainly could not be ignorant of 
the existence of these thousands of Belgian ducks. If they were 
really the same thing as the Indian Runners it would be well 
known on both sides of the channel, in which case the only 
possible conclusion would be that the English breeders have 
deliberately clouded their origin, then lied about it for these 
scores of years. I do not believe fair-minded Americans wish 
to support this unworthy view. 

I think it was early in Nov., 191 1, that I received from a 
southern correspondent, a letter stating that a Tennessee breeder 
had personally told him of seeing Indian Runners in their native 
home in the East Indies. I wrote the Tennessee man for fur- 
ther information, but my letter was ignored. 

On Dec. 2, 191 1, nearly a week after the matter for this 
edition had gone to the printer, a correspondent wrote me as 
follows : "A few days ago, I got a scorching letter from a cus- 

13 



tomer who enclosed a clipping from 'Farm and Fireside.' ". The 
story told in the clipping followed. I looked it up, finding then 
that I had seen it and dismissed it as negligible, when it came 
out, some months previous. It was a simple story, told by an 
English woman now living in Virginia, of how she had suggested 
the name for the Runners, nearly thirty years ago, because of 
the "celebrated runner, an Indian, named Deerfoot," the world's 
champion long-distance runner at that time. 

The inevitable "old sea captain" (another one!) figured in 
this story as the source from whence the ducks came. But the 
one point needing special notice is that the Virginian lady stated 
she, herself, "sent eggs and the breed all over the world, 
some very early to Belgium and Holland, France and Germany." 
She also affirmed : "There are no Runners in India, only what 
went from England to a Maharajah, sent by Mr. J. H. Wilson, 
a great poultry enthusiast, who was also a breeder and exhibitor 
and judge, and was instrumental in getting the Indian Runner 
Club formed." 

Mr. Wilson was an early Sec'y of the Club in England — 
doubtless the first. We may call him as witness that at least 
one inference which has been drawn from this story is not valid: 
Fortunately, a letter from him is in existence in America, dating 
back some years, in which Mr. Wilson stated that to his own 
knowledge, his strain had not then been crossed for fifty years. 
It can be only the name that is but thirty years old, in any event. 

It comes back to the conclusion which I have more than once 
suggested: viz., that the question is, in essence, simply one of 
whom we elect to believe, when those who "know" tell stories 
of such opposite tenor. It is not impossible that the Virginian 
named the Runners, unless we can prove that they bore this 
name earlier than thirty years ago. It has been stated that they 
bore other, early names. But, if the above story of names and 
shipments be true, it disproves rather effectually some prominent 
stories about "the sham Indian Runner." Yet, if true, why— 

14 



why did none of these Holland, Belgian and German dncks bear 
the name "Indian Runner" from the first? And why does that 
"best authority," Mr. L. Van der Snickt, say that "the same 
duck" has been "selected for centuries" in Holland, Belgium and 
France ? 



i.S 



English History, Views and 
Standard 



CHAPTER II 

After we trace back to a certain period, or, possibly, forty 
years or so, the history of the Indian Runner in England be- 
comes somewhat hazy. English breeders say that the earliest 
literature on the breed — or, at least, that which goes farthest 
back, is a little treatise by John Donald, who lived in County 
Cumberland, where the breed was first known. In this book, 
Mr. Donald states that the Indian Runners were brought to 
England by a sea captain, about sixty years before his book 
was written. H. DeCourcy, of Ireland, a writer whom we 
know quite well in America — thinks it is now twenty years since 
he first saw this (undated) book. This would make it eighty 
years since the breed first made any history in England that is 
now remembered — a period so remote that none would now be 
alive who had personal knowledge of the facts and of its intro- 
duction and earliest history. 

One of the English treatises, "The Indian Runner," was 
written by Jacob Thomlinson, who first knew this duck in County 

t6 



Cumberland. He refers to Air. Donald's (earlier) work, and 
also to a brief treatise by Mr. Henry Digby, giving credit to these 
men for all items not within his own, personal knowledge. The 
illustrations in the Thomlinson pamphlet are from drawings 
by Mr. J. W. Walton, Secretary of the present Indian Runner 
Duck Club. "They give," says Mr. Thomlinson, "a clear insight 
of what a true Runner should and should not be." 

The models from which these pictures were drawn "have 
won prizes at the great National Shows." They were intended 
to be used as "a guide to both old and new fanciers, to obtain 
a more uniform idea of type and standard." This shows how 
English breeders regard Mr. Walton's drawings, and how they 
defer to his knowledge of the breed. 

Mr. Thomlinsoivs own knowledge of the breed reached back 
thirty years, but his treatise was also undated. However, he 
gives us a point to rest on by saying that he first took "particular 
notice" of these birds in 1884, when one duck made for him a 
record of 180 eggs. As this "completely overshadowed" other 
breeds, it was the foundation of Mr. Thomlinson's vital interest 
in the Indian Runners. 

From the fact that Mr. Donald was a resident of County 
Cumberland, the original seat of Indian Runner culture in Eng- 
land, it seemed to follow that he was most likely to be right as 
to their origin, and it was to him that the earlier English breeders 
looked very largely for information. 

The power of the true Indian Runner to stamp its color and 
marking, in the case of a cross, is taken as evidence of very 
long fixation of its characteristics in the native state. Eighty 
per cent of such progeny, it is said will favor the Runner, espe- 
cially in characteristic color. This varies considerably above 
the proportion given by Mendel's law. 

English breeders seem willing to allow that the long neglect 
has made it almost certain that many types would appear in 
various parts of the Island ; for, the original blood must have 

17 



been largely tainted during the slowness of the nation to recog- 
nize the peculiar value of the breed, and to place it early under 
the care of some organization which would watch out for the 
preservation of its most valuable and vital characteristics. Like 
the Rhode Island Red in this country, the breed had a sadly 
neglected youth. 

Quite a number of importations have in later years, been 
made into this country from the flocks of Mr. J. W. Walton, 
"Honorable Secretary" of the Indian Runner Duck Club of 
England. Mr. Walton says that the best birds have always 
been in a very few hands. He wrote me, personally, that even 
in England "breeders, exhibitors and judges fell into nearly 
every possible trouble with Indian Runners and reduced them 
from an outstanding and most distinctive bird to a common 
type, small, cross-bred duck with fairly even markings. That 
was the Exhibition Runner (?) of eight or nine years ago. ioo 
per cent of American (Standard-bred) Runners and 99 per cent 
of English are wrong in shape, and position of legs. Color 
without type is of no value." 

Mr. Walton has also said that it was quite certain that many 
earlier judges of Indian Runners "had no acquaintance with the 
genuine Runner." It was under this strained situation that the 
Indian Runner Duck Club in England took up the work, and 
formed a Standard calculated to preserve the distinctiveness of 
this most remarkable breed. The birds illustrated in English 
poultry journals at about this time, according to Mr. Walton, 
"showed strong evidence of Mallard blood." 

It was within the decade before the English breeders found 
their bearings that most of our earlier importations were made. 
This shows how strong was the probability that many of these 
earlier importations were of mixed blood. It was about or 
just previous to this time that the Indian Runner Duck Club 
intervened to save the Runners from extinction as to their 
most distinctive characteristics. It superseded the Standard 

18 



formed by Air. Donald and Mr. Digby, (with which there had 
been dissatisfaction for some time) by one better designed "to 
retain the valuable utility and artistic qualilties" of the breed. 
A part of its object, as stated, was to keep the exhibition of the 
Runner "free from dishonorable and fraudulent practices." 

In order to get at the English ideal of shape, it may be well 
to give a word to "the old, cod, soda-water bottle." This bottle, 
whose form is given as a general model to work toward, tapered 
toward each end. The taper is gradual, in the bird, from the 
thighs back. Mention is made of the funnel-like expansion 
where neck passes into body. The accepted angle of carriage 
is up to sixty-five degrees when the bird is traveling, and from 
this to seventy-five degrees when alert. The neck is a strong 
feature, the head and neck together carrying thirty points. 
Length, thinness, and fineness are especially demanded. 
In these points, the great majority of American Runners fail, 
breeders seeming to overlook the added beauty and grace given 
by a slender neck. 

I shall not try to give the English Standard demands in 
their entirety, but will refer to those which need study, in view 
of the swinging away in type and color by the American Stand- 
ard, and by the birds shown in America. The color demanded 
in contrast with the white is a fawn, rather warm and soft, some- 
times expressed also as of "ginger color," a term which the 
American breeders have adopted, but which I have not seen in 
the American shows. The newest males shown here are de- 
cidedly of a pinkish, rather than ginger tone, a shade which 
carries directly toward the claret which is disqualified by the 
American Standard. The color is required to be uniform, from 
surface to skin. 

The chief variations between color-tones, from English and 
American points of view, are in the head and rump of the drake 
and the body, fawn color and overlay on the shoulders. The 
last point is often strong in color, the pencilings being rather 

19 



distinct, but they are supposed to blend into a warm fawn of 
the true shade desired, when seen from a short distance away. 
The trick in getting color on the English-bred Runner, is to 
get one tone a good ginger, and the other as near it as is pos- 
sible, the outer portion being the lighter. As this is the portion 
most visible on the breast and body, it gives the appearance of 
evenness, as soon as the new coat loses a little in strength of 
color. If too weak in color when the new coat is first donned, 
it will be washy in the extreme after a few weeks, and will 
well justify the term so often applied to the lighter birds bred 
to American Standard, "a dirty white." This loss of color is 
one of the worst things that can befall a true Runner. I am 
loath to use the word "true" at all in speaking of the Runners, 
since it has been so juggled and made to mean such widely dif- 
ferent things. "Genuine" might, perhaps, be a better term. 

The full stern of the upturning, Pekin type, is considered 
a defect, although weight here cannot be allowed to count 
strongly against females that have laid one or two seasons. The 
rump of the male and its head may be of a dull, rather bronzy 
green. 

The English Standard lays emphasis on the point that type 
must receive greater consideration than color or markings. 
Short, thick necks, squat specimens, smallness at the expense of 
the long shape, are decided defects. Slate and dark red in 
drakes are not favored. 

It should be perfectly plain to any normal mind that the 
English type of Indian Runner, being so much older than any- 
thing in America, justly lays claim to the title of "The True 
Indian Runner." There are many breeders in America who are 
breeding as nearly as possible to the English (genuine) Stand- 
ard, possibly yielding a very little on color in order not to have 
a bird too widely different from the one demanded by the 
American Standard. Up to 1910, (so convinced were many 
of our judges, even, that the American Standard was not re- 

20 



quiring the true type) the English-bred birds have been able to 
get, in some instances, very good prizes, though not often the 
best. In Jan., 1910, such a male bird took second at Madison 
Square Garden. From what I hear, I judge that the ax is to 
be applied to such birds at future shows. The new Standard 
is silent except as its requirement of "fawn" may be regarded 
as penalizing two shades of fawn. The revision committee, it 
was reported, did declare against "concentric penciling," what- 
ever that may be taken to mean. 

''Whose birds was the American Standard made to fit?" 
asked a correspondent, suspiciously, not long ago. The only 
testimony given to the public on this point inheres in the adver- 
tisements of two of them at the time of the change, that only 
their birds met the requirements of the new revision ! 

For months before the latest revision of the American 
Standard of Perfection, a sustained fight was made to educate 
the public, and incidentally, the Revision Committee, up to a 
knowledge of the real type of the genuine Indian Runners, and 
of the injury the proposed action would be to the breeders of 
the English type, and to the breed. Perhaps a dozen breeders 
took part in this, one being a poultry judge. But the Standard 
had called for an entirely different type for so many years, that 
the Revisers were simply afraid to give any recognition to the 
breeders of the genuine Indian Runners. Indeed, it was scarcely 
to be expected that the Standard-makers would so publicly 
acknowledge a sustained error. Moreover, the known custom 
in this country, with all breeds, of making the Standard to fit 
the aims and ideals of the greatest number of the more powerful 
breeders, stood in the way. It is no doubt true that there are 
more of the present breeders who favor the "plain" type of solid 
fawn, with white, than of the breeders who favor the penciled 
fawn type. This penciled type is not insistently penciled in 
the favored specimens, except when the feathers are first grown, 
but is rather dimly penciled in two shades so harmonious and 

21 



so near together in tone that they gently blend into a color which 
appears as a solid color as the season advances. The cuts 
shown herewith, of birds soon after molting, will easily give 
proof of this. 

The extreme Standard weight in this country is four pounds 
for females and four and one-half pounds for matured males. 
I have seen English males weighing five and one-half pounds, 
but this is not common. Five pounds is reasonably common. 

The preferred weights mentioned in the (present) Eng- 
lish Standard are three and one-half to four pounds for ducks, 
four to five pounds for drakes. Head, bill, eyes and neck take 
nearly one-third the points in the English Standard ; body, shape 
and carriage together comprise 45 points — nearly one-half the 
exhibition value — while color, markings and condition receive the 
other 25 points. That is, color, even with marking and condi- 
tion added, counts only one-fourth the show value. 

I have never noted in the ranks of the breeders of the orig- 
inal variety, any feeling of enmity toward the favored American 
type, in itself. But the feeling is very general — I think I may 
say, fairly universal — that the breed name belongs of right to 
the original type. The other should have come in, if come it 
must, as a second variety, with a variety name. It is precisely 
as though the Silver Penciled Wyandotte should attempt to push 
aside the original Silver Wyandotte, and make insistent claim 
to being "the only true Wyandotte." Surely "shape makes the 
breed, color (only) the variety." Is it not so, breeders? 

It is the great hope of those who are breeding really good 
Runners of the White-egg type, that our Standard makers may 
undergo an operation for strabismus before the time of the next 
revision. We'd like them to see; straight! 

In November, 1910, after the first edition of this book had 
gone to the printers, English interest in Indian Runners was 
keyed up by a sensational exhibit at the Crystal Palace Show. 
This exhibit was made in the name of Mr. J. W. Walton, and 



22 



consisted of a team of amazing Indian Runner ducks shown 
there. Mr. Walton gained all five prizes in each class. The 
authoritative report in "The Feathered World," London, said, 
concerning this sweeping victory: "And well he might, if an 
upright carriage has anything to do with the qualifications of a 
Runner. There's an old saying, 'Like water off a duck's back', 
but I fail to see how it could be applied to, say, the second prize 
drake, for he stood so absolutely perpendicular, I doubt if any 
water could possibly get there in order to run off again; if it 
did, the process would be a decidedly rapid one." 

The females were described as of "a soft, sweet shade, be- 
tween a fawn and a buff, with exquisite lacing throughout." 
(Those who contend for the greater beauty of the solid fawn, 
should note how our English fellow-breeders regard the lacing, 
or penciling.) The especially upright carriage characterized all 
the birds of this "wonderful" team, the best specimen being de- 
scribed thus : "This bird, when the least disturbed or excited, 
stood perfectly erect, tail down between legs, a level line down 
back from head to tip of tail." The reporter spoke of meeting 
one onlooker who said jokingly that he "should always dread the 
danger of the bird falling backward." 

Doubtless this gentleman had the right point of view, as a 
bird not absolutely erect would give a better impression, and, 
possibly, when we get past the point where we must stress up- 
rightness so much, we shall not admire most the bird which 
looks to be in danger of overbalance backward. 

Mr. Walton is somewhat reticent about these mysterious 
Runners. He has felt so strongly the danger to the breed from 
a certain attitude in England which led nearly to its ruin, some 
years ago, that he resolved to keep full control over the new 
"wonder" ducks, in his own hands and those of one or two 
friends, who have worked with him, till its characteristics were 
well impressed on the best of the earlier stock. None of the 
birds was offered for sale at the Palace Show, the prohibitive 
price of a thousand guineas each being catalogued. 

23 



Now, however, the Secretary of the English I. R. Duck 
Club is offering "real Indian Runners from the purest de- 
scendants of the old stock, and new blood from the native Indian 
source." The Challenge Cup and the International Crystal 
Palace Medal and many other Palace wins gained by Air. Wal- 
ton's birds are simply material proofs of the value in which 
his birds are held by the best Indian Runner experts of Britain. 
I have considered it necessary to mention and to stress these facts 
and these proofs, since Belgian "authorities" have persisted in 
claiming that the so-called Indian Runners were only an inferior 
type of a common Belgian Duck. On the strength of this, two 
or three in this country who should know better have talked far 
too much about the "Sham Indian Runners," the "popular fal- 
lacy'' (?) that the Indian Runners came from India, and the 
"careless and unreliable" people who have ventured not to agree 
with these same unwise "expert" (?) talkers. 

The particular talker who said: "There is absolutely no 
foundation to the many statements that the race came from 
either the East or West Indies," should perhaps think a bit be- 
fore writing more about the Indian Runners. It is rather diffi- 
cult to convince those who have the birds and who know where 
they got them (after innumerable difficulties and disappoint- 
ments, and several futile attempts, as Mr. Walton says) that 
they don't exist, and that they don't come from there "anny- 
l:ow" ! 

It was the same talker, too, who came out plump with the 
statement that Mr. Donald, through his booklet, "was strongly 
active in clouding the real cradle of the Runners, by claiming 
that they were first imported into England in an India ship. 
He is also father to the statement that Rouen blood was used 
in getting larger size, thus necessitating the disqualification for 
claret breast. Concerning the remark about Mr. Donald, Mr. 
Walton says: "So far from Donald's pamphlet clouding their 
origin, if it had not been for that pamphlet the new birds might 

24 



never have been located and secured. Donald's pamphlet is 
vindicated and his facts in the main substantiated. The early 
birds, without a doubt, came by an India ship; and the assertion 
that Donald clouded the cradle of the Runners is absolutely 
unwarranted and untrue. The reverse is the fact. X — (the 
talker ) by his own writings proves that he, for one, knows noth- 
ing about the Indian Runner. From first to last, his article is 
wrong, and how any one with such ignorance of Indian Runners 
could profess to correct others is beyond my comprehension." 

The above facts go to show that the modern English type 
of Indian Runner, beautifully penciled (or laced, as the words 
have come to be almost interchangeably used) very erect in car- 
riage, and racy in type, is immovably fixed as the real distinctive 
and charming correct type of Indian Runner. To it belongs 
the breed name; to it, the first place. Others must follozv it, 
as variations upon its excellent characteristics, and must come 
purely as varieties. If to say this be "partisan," surely it is the 
only logical partisanship, and precisely in line with our American 
Standard rulings concerning breeds and varieties. 

There is one point in especial about the carriage of the 
Indian Runners, to which I want to direct attention. The most 
distinctive, characteristic Runner pose may be compared to that 
of a pointer dog. When the bird is quickened to alertness by 
eagerness or by danger, the back stiffens and becomes almost a 
straight line from head to stern. Only a few of the best ducks 
in America show this pose, as far as I have seen them. A very 
large number have an angle at base of neck, which makes the 
bird appear ungainly. Many do not apprehend this as a defect, 
if the head is held high. But the head may be very high, yet 
the bird may not show more than 45 degrees of erectness in the 
body, and when this is the case, the angle at base of neck is 
very unpleasantly prominent. Sometimes the head will be car- 
ried high, while the body is held less than at an angle of 45. 
The lower the body, in proportion, the more prominent the angle. 



I have discarded elegant birds in shape and otherwise, because 
of this one fault. It will be a long time before all our birds 
or even a majority of them show the straight line of back, but 
it is what we ought to work toward. When a bird can "point" 
nearly vertical in pose, then we have what I consider a bird of 
good carriage. For some reason, this pose does not seem to 
come as naturally to the males as to the females. At least, 
many more of the females I have seen show it, when excited. 



2() 



The Present Show Quality of 
American Standard Runners 



CHAPTER III 

The American Standard type of Indian Runners, as seen 
in the best shows, is not only a different type of bird from the 
English Runner, but it is in the main decidedly different from 
the ideal which has, up to the present date of writing, been pic- 
tured and described in the American Standard of Perfection. 
The ideals of the breeders have been gradually changing, as to 
color, and the birds that win now are quite different in color 
from those that won a few years ago. The allowance of gray 
for so many years, as well as the preferred fawn, while possibly 
it seemed necessary at the beginning, has not worked to the good 
of the breed. A far larger proportion of males still come 
with gray breasts than would have been the case could the 
Standard have demanded, from the first, that fawn should be 
the one color, without the gray as an alternate. 

I have studied much over the peculiar demands at some 
points of the American Standard of Perfection, in its dealing 
with Indian Runners. Its ideal pictures in the 1905 American 
Standard are near the demands for good Runners, as laid down 



by the English Standard. At two points in the description, 
however, the American demand swings quite away from the 
English. Where the latter calls for legs placed well back, and 
makes legs placed too wide apart a defect, the American Stand- 
ard demands legs "set well apart." And whereas the English 
Standard calls for bronzy green on the head and rump of male 
the American Standard has demanded as the ideal, for the 5 
years previous to 19 10 a light fawn color, which must be even 
throughout the entire plumage, except where the white markings 
should be seen. 

The American demand for "light fawn" has now been 
modified to "fawn" and the color is really a peculiar, almost 
indescribable light pinky-brown. It is, without doubt, a beauti- 
ful color and very much admired ; but so much had everything 
been subordinated to color-tone of the "fawn" that the winning- 
birds at the great New York State Fair, in September, 1910, 
showed nasty, white splotches in the fawn, spoiling the color- 
marking most decidedly. 

In November, 1910, I went to the earlier show held in 
New York, chiefly to study the Indian Runners. These picked 
birds were mainly very good in the even color now preferred 
for both sexes — really a handsome pinkish fawn. Only a few 
were good in carriage ; scarcely one had a fine neck ; and fully 
thirty per cent were notably splashed with white in the fawn 
of the back. A neck defect which breeders have not seemed 
to take into account (the proof being that it is so general) is 
that, the neck being already too short and thick, is made to look 
shorter and thicker by having the dividing line between the 
colors too high. It is often cut squarely, but in about one-third 
the single specimens shown, there was only about an inch to an 
inch-and-a-half between the cheek marking and the fawn of 
the lower neck. The Walton ideal sketch shows the white on a 
slender neck and nearly five-eighths the length of the fawn 
marking on the side of the breast, at the point where it extends 

28 



entirely to the square cut in marking across the breast. This 
gives a widely different appearance to the bird. 

The illustrations of Indian Runners in the poultry publica- 
tions generally, up to 1909, were not of a sort to furnish much 
of an ideal to breeders in general. There were a few birds of 
typical carriage in this country. (Even in 191 1 they are still com- 
paratively few ; I mean of those which will hold the high carriage 
practically all the time). The photographs from life commonly 
published, gave little hint of the Runner which the "Ideal" in 
the 1905 Standard showed. The new Standard contains a new 
and improved "ideal." Some years ago, Mrs. Mabel Feint 
made a pencil sketch from life which was very good for the 
time, though a trifle too full in breast, not showing the straight 
under line of body which is typical of the real Runner, and 
which even the American Standard "Ideal" demands. This cut 
is still in use in some quarters. The photographs I have seen, 
even up to the present time, have not been, as a rule, as good 
as Mrs. Feint's "Ideal." She was a breeder of Runners for 
some years, and the birds she carried are still bred as a distinct 
strain. In her time, these won over many of those from the 
more prominent breeders. The American type of birds are 
claimed to be "sports" from birds imported from England. In- 
asmuch as English breeders, for many of the earlier years, flirted 
with the solid-color will-o ? -the-wisp, it would not be at all strange 
if some of the birds from England at that early date should 
throw sports. But the better English breeders have long decried 
and regretted their waste of time, and the detriment they worked 
the breed for a period before they learned to breed strictly to 
the typical color. 

One needs to handle Runners for some time, and learn 
their typical carriage and their habits of behavior at different 
periods of growth not only, but at different stages, in order to 
criticise them fairly. Probably it has occurred to very few 
that it is almost impossible for a laying bird to hold her typical 

29 



carriage and form. There is abundant reason for this, with 
the Runners. A single I. Runner egg ready for exclusion, is 
likely to weigh three ounces, and the ducks are quite reasonably 
likely to lay six days out of seven, during at least a portion of 
the year. Prof. James E. Rice, by experiment, found that a 
color-fed hen deposited some fourteen layers in the formation 
of an egg, showing that this egg had been fourteen days in grow- 
ing from the pin-head ovule to the two-ounce product of average 
exclusion. If we might suppose a duck to be 14 days in grow- 
ing an egg, from the beginning to its readiness for exclusion, 
and laying six eggs in a week, she must be carrying within her 
narrow body, at one time, twelve eggs, of diminishing sizes from 
the three-ounce finished product, to the tiny, but enlarging ovule 
of the egg cluster. It is, of course, impossible to conceive that 
such a weight of eggs should not change both the shape and 
the carriage of the female, for the time being. Thus it comes 
about that we have to speak of these birds as in ''exhibition 
form" and "laying form," while there is still another period of 
nearly half a year, during which they eat so much that they 
appear rather logy, and assume the carriage of maturity only 
at intervals. This is during their growth toward maturity, and 
we need for this period a third term, such as "growing form," 
to describe them then. 

One of my correspondents who is very anxious for the true 
Indian Runner to become well known and well liked, rather 
regretted the fact that Mr. J. W. Walton's pen pictures of ideal 
Runners were published in this country, since they show such 
an exaggerated type to American eyes that those buyers without 
experience would be dissatisfied with any average Runner that 
could now be sent them. I may say, however, that in my ex- 
perience, no fowl ever sent out has given such good, general 
satisfaction as the type of penciled Runners now bred in this 
country. Nearly all the letters of acknowledgment which I re- 
ceive, as well as those which other breeders have shown me, 

30 



express the greatest satisfaction with the average birds. A short 
time ago, I saw one which read thus : "I have never received 
anything by express which gave me so much satisfaction and 
delight as the coop of Indian Runners you sent me." These 
were the average run of low priced birds, say at about two 
dollars each. 

There is a reason for this in the fact that, although but 
few of the Runners hold the distinctive carriage all the time, 
and, being few, are held for the high prices, yet the average 
Runner will almost invariably show oft" nicely whenever fright- 
ened, or excited or free to run and pose. And I have never 
known any breed which seemed to possess so much of interest 
for its breeders, whether they were, or were not. finished fan- 
ciers. 

But, there is much more to the question of true type in 
Indian Runners than has yet appeared in our survey. More and 
more, as the years pass, are fanciers falling into line on the 
declaration that no breed can survive long and prosper, even 
as a fancy fowl, unless it is first a capital utility fowl. This 
may be called, I think, a foundation tenet of The Fancy at the 
present time. Few advertisers permit themselves ta nut forth 
any claims to trade without supporting them strongly with 
testimony and assertion as to the superior utility value of their 
breed, and especially of their particular strain of that breed. 
Even the story of the superlative fancy value of the "$ 10,000 
hen" must be buttressed by the statement that her progeny lay 
at the rate of 83 eggs in four months ; and is not this by implica- 
tion, 249 eggs a year, with chances of 250 in leap years? 

It goes without saying, almost, that the Indian Runner, 
being a champion layer and a prolific breeder, will soon cease 
to be of much use to The Fancy, through sheer over-production, 
unless the farmers awake very widely to its value. The Indian 
Runner must become — and that very soon — the farmer's duck. 

In the Runner camp, a rumble has been growing for some 

31 



little time. During 1910 it rose almost to a roar. The Runner 
of the emasculated type called for by the American Standard 
of Perfection, although lovely to look upon for color, in its best 
estate, has a great weakness as a producer of eggs for market, 
in the fact that it laid a large proportion of green eggs (a few 
call them "blue"). It does not need much argument, I think, 
to convince any one with an unbiased mind that the crystal- 
white egg produced by the English Standard Runner is far and 
away more desirable for a market egg than one tinted more or 
less deeply with green. 

A breeder of American Standard Runners, having had much 
trouble and complaint regarding the large output of green eggs, 
wrote to another asking counsel, and saying, among other things, 
that the green-egg type were not so good layers as the others. 
The attitude of the recipient of this letter is shown in a brief 
paragraph from the reply: "It is said in England fully 80 per 
cent of the (so-called) Indian Runners have very little Indian 
Runner blood in them, and a still worse condition prevails here, 
because of our Standard. Owing to this Standard, there are 
very few genuine Indian Runners to be found." 

This sweeping statement harks back to the fact that Eng- 
lish breeders, as I have noted above, tried so hard to "improve" 
their Runners that they nearly ran them into the ground, and 
came near losing the real Runner completely. At present, not 
only in England, but in her colonies, the feeling of the better 
breeders against any admixture of outside blood is intense. In 
Australia, the birds that won in the great competition were Eng- 
lish, Standard-bred Runners. Mr. Dunnicliffe, the secretary for 
the competitions, as I note elsewhere, told me personally that 
nothing else will be accepted in Australia. 



Comparison of 
English and American Types 



CHAPTER IV 



For a breed that is sweeping the country with such amazing 
swiftness, the Indian Runner had received up to 1910 far too 
little really critical attention. It has been bred in England sev- 
eral times as many years as it has been noticed and bred here, 
and in both countries one craze of the average breeder seems 
to have been to modify it in order to get more size. This is 
folly, even from the utility point of view, for the minute you 
increase size you increase eating capacity, and eating capacity 
beyond what is needed to produce flesh and eggs is dead against 
economy in an animal that has a specific, great point, like the 
egg-laying tendency of the Indian Runner. 

Many breeders of the Indian Runner have been calling at- 
tention to the proud fact that Indian Runners won the Australian 
Contest prize with a marvelous record, as announced a year ago. 
But the majority of them have not a shadow of right to use this 
as a talking point for their birds, since it was not the American 
Standard Runner which made these records. 

33 



Believing that this was the fact, i wrote, some time ago, to 
Mr. Dunnicliffe, Organizing Secretary, in connection with the 
Hawkesbury contests, asking him what kind of Runners were 
in these Australian contests. He very kindly wrote me the 
facts, which supported my belief. These are his exact words : 
"The Indian Runners kept in Australia have been bred from 
stock imported from England. The English Standard is fol- 
lowed by all our poultry clubs and shows. As is the case else- 
where, there are people here who breed Rouen blood into them 
to improve the size, but any trace of this blood in them would 
knock them out in the shows. In the matter of laying, we 
find that any infusion of Rouen blood depreciates them, and 
the best laying records have been put up by birds of pure, Eng- 
lish blood, selected here for many years for their laying 
capacity." 

The American Indian Runner, being bred to our Standard, 
is a much modified bird. The distinctive Runner shape has 
been subordinated to color, the color lightened, and the value 
as a layer lessened, all in order to get a plain contrast to the 
white, instead of a penciled one. Perhaps the new manufacture 
is prettier ; since beauty is largely a matter of opinion, I will 
not question that. But we have lost three or four most valuable 
characteristics in getting it. The English breeders who at one 
period thoughtlessly risked all these to get size, have more 
excuse, since they thought this an economic advance. 

Within a few days, during 19 10, I received two letters, both 
from strangers, on the lookout for white-egg Runners. One 
of them said that he had been buncoed, for his "fawn and white" 
ducks were all colors, many being white. The other wrote: 

"I got 100 eggs of — , this spring, ordering white, 

but getting mixed colors and small eggs, and most of the duck- 
lings were white. I sent to , and got fine 

layers of large, pale green and white eggs." One of the firms 
mentioned by this correspondent was a Chicago winner, the year 

34 



he bought, and the other a firm that has had more write-ups 
and free readers and puffs than most of the other well-known 
water- fowl breeders put together. And I call attention to the 
fact that there were two distinct types, from these two different 
breeders of American "fawns", into one, at least, of which white 
blood had been introduced. Neither of them was of the true, 
white-egg type. 

There is one specific point, viz., length — about the genuine 
Runner, aside from the carriage, which up to 1910 was scarcely 
referred to in periodicals in this country, although the Standard 
does say that the birds shall be long and narrow. The long 
birds were frequently downed at New York in favor of those 
showing the light, even fawn, evenness of color seeming to be 
the chief item in a good Runner, from the American point of 
view, in addition to good carriage. Some of our show birds do 
have fine carriage. 

The English Standard gives something definite to go on, in 
stating what should be considered "fairly good weights and 
lengths ;" though it cautions that these must not count alone, but 
must be in connection with well balanced type. It also recom- 
mends that judges see the birds on the run before making awards. 
But I think these "fair" lengths will open the eyes of our breed- 
ers. They are : 25 to 30 inches for ducks, and 28 to 36 inches 
for the drakes. Runners, by the yard, as one might say ! 

The stern, too, is very different from the Pekin type so 
often seen here in the winners. Birds that have laid for a con- 
siderable time do get heavier at the rear, but the true shape is 
quite light at the stern, tapering from the thighs to the tail. 
This, with the length and carriage gives a bird whose distinctive- 
ness differentiates it from all other types the minute the eye falls 
on it. This, to my mind, is what we want, especially as this is 
the heavy laying type in this breed, according to testimony. 

Judge Clipp has said publicly: "Consulting the numerous 
breeders of this famous duck during the show season, nine out 

35 



of ten would admit that those of the penciled variety were the 
best layers." He also said: "I doubt if there is another fowl 
in existence that will lay as many eggs during the year as the 
Indian Runner. Even the Leghorn must take oft* her hat to 
the Indian Runner duck." Mr. Clipp speaks as a breeder, as 
well as a judge. 

Mr. Scott, of New Zealand, calls the I. R. the "Queen of 
Layers," and states that his best bird gave him nearly $10.00 
worth of eggs in one year. The average price was about 37>4c 
per dozen, according to his report of his "World's Record." Of 
course, he does not breed the American Runner. 

What might be considered to be a mongrel Runner? One, 
surely, which had been outbred strongly. What does the Buff 
Orpington Duck claim to be? A cross, having Runner blood. 
Since we already have a mongrel Runner with a breed name, 
(The Buff Orpington) let us beware lest we make the Indian 
Runner itself a mongrel by adding other blood, no matter of 
what name. The true Runner is so distinctive that it is more 
easily injured by outcrosses, it seems to me, than any other 
breed could possibly be. 

It was certainly not more than 13 years after Mr. Thomlin- 
son's first "particular attention" that the first birds were im- 
ported into this country. This makes it very probable indeed 
that the earlier birds imported into America, were very poor 
birds, from the present point of view of the English Indian 
Runner Duck Club. As they have been bred to the American 
Standard now for a number of years, it is perfectly fair to 
conclude that few or none of the English Standard-bred ducks 
have been imported in recent years. This would follow from 
the fact that Americans were breeding away from the English 
Standard, and breeding, as is claimed, a sport. I except, of 
course, those who are frankly breeding to the English Standard 
because they believe it more nearly correct. In Mr. Thomlin- 
son's book appears a portrait of a Canadian duck, "never beaten 

36 



in Canada," sketched — as a warning — by the Secretary of the 
English I. R. Club. The faults especially named are bad car- 
riage, and "wide on legs." The width between legs and the 
solid fawn which the American ideal demands, are regarded 
by the English as decidedly detrimental to the breed. "If the 
legs are placed wide apart, you are certain to get a waddler 
instead of a Runner, and if not placed well back you get hori- 
zontal carriage," says Mr. Thomlinson. It is true that the Eng- 
lish Standard demands an appearance of uniformity of the 
darker markings in the body color of the female, but it states 
with equal distinctness that these feathers may carry two tones, 
one described as "soft fawn," the other as penciling which is 
"brighter and warmer in tint," (Another shade of fawn, in fact). 
It avers that the overlapping of the feathers makes the females 
appear almost solid fawn, quite even in tone. This question 
does not come up with regard to the drakes, as they do not show 
penciling, in either the American or the English type. 

I wish more especially, however, to lay emphasis on the 
difference between the two types from the utility standpoint, 
for here, I believe, the real fight is to be made. Numbers of 
breeders who have had both types affirm that the English Stand- 
ard-bred Runners are better layers; laying earlier, more in 
numbers, larger eggs, and eggs of better color. The Indian 
Runners of the best English type lay eggs of a transparent 
whiteness not seen, so far as I know, in any other eggs offered 
for table use in the regular markets. They average three 
ounces, when the birds are well kept and matured. And, they 
are superior to hens' eggs for nearly all sorts of cooking. 

The American Standard-bred ducks, as a whole, lay a con- 
siderable proportion of green eggs, though the flocks vary, pos- 
sibly, in this. At least, some breeders send out less than others. 
I fancy, too, that they make some careful discrimination: one 
breeder sent eggs to the then President of the American Poultry 
Association, which the latter reported as being less than three 

37 



per cent, green; while to another, who was a lesser light, were 
sent by the same breeder, a lot containing so many green eggs 
that the breeder was in utter despair, and forthwith turned 
about and bought eggs for hatching, of the English-bred type, 
by the hundreds, hatching until late in the season in order to 
get enough. I have read the original letters giving these facts. 

A letter from Connecticut, received after the hatching sea- 
son of 1910, runs as follows: "This spring, I set a 240-egg 
incubator with so-called Indian Runner ducks. Some of the 
eggs were white, but the majority green. The ducklings are 
most anything in color, from white to light fawn. I don't want 
an Indian Runner Duck on my place that lays a green egg. The 
only thing I am after is ducks that lay white eggs and are prolific 
layers." The demand for the white eggs only is growing so 
strong that both the utility man and the breeder of high-grade 
Standard exhibition birds are demanding guarantees that the 
strain shall lay strictly-white eggs. The only type that comes 
anywhere near this, so far as any testimony I have seen or heard, 
to date, goes, is the type bred to the English Standard. Those 
raisers who are breeding to the American Standard are promis- 
ing themselves that they can breed out the green egg by strict 
selection. Some aver that they have already done it. I do 
not say that this is impossible ; but any one knows that it must 
be a process of years. 

Calling attention again to the fact that the ducks in the 
Australian competition — vide Mr. DunniclinVs letter— were Eng- 
lish Standard-bred Indian Runners, I will note a few statements 
that have been made as to laying capacity of the Indian Runners 
—the English Indian Runners, I mean. For, I do not think 
there is a certified record published for the American type. It 
will be noticed in practically all references to the laying capacity 
of the Runners, in this country, that little mention is made of 
the records made in the yards of the writers thereof. These 
figures are simply copied. A large proportion of all the figures 

38 



given have come from across the water. One big record came 
from New Zealand; one came from Ireland; several came from 
Australia. I have two official records made in public work ; 
also, one, made by Air. De Courcy's ducks ; one, made by Eng- 
lish bred ducks of an American breeder ; one, made in England 
by Mr. Thomlinson's ducks. The last-named record is 180, 
made in 1884. Mn Thomlinson states that he has had a few 
exceed this in later years. The half- Walton's have a record of 
185 in nine months, made on a northern American farm. The 
Australian Competition, a public, official report from birds 
handled at an Agricultural College, has been for three successive 
years reported as an average of above 200, without meat, and 
last made by two pens. 

Private claims, for which, so far as I know, no proof is 
shown, run winningly from 204 and 209 to 240, 260, 280, and 
288. Several breeders claim ducks having a record above 200; 
one states that his birds lay all winter, and one refers modestly 
to one of his ducks with a record of 200 eggs in nine and one- 
half months. This is only 21 a month; many Runners are fully 
equal to this, during the favorable months. The rub is to get 
it during December and the moulting period. The 288 record 
hails from England, and I do not know what proofs have been 
given as to its authenticity. But, at least, the "plain-clothes" 
men, (those who want the plain fawn and white demanded by 
the American Standard) cannot consistently claim it, as it was 
made by a "different" duck. 

During 1910, I tried for many months to find some verifica- 
tion of a record, reported here in 1909, of 320 eggs from one 
Indian Runner Duck in a single year. At first, it was reported 
here that this record was made in Australia. It was thought to 
be a public record. Late in 19 10, an English writer and traveller 
wrote me that he had seen this duck, about which all the Runner 
world was agog. He wrote : "I had the pleasure of seeing 
the record duck while I was in New Zealand, as I went to see 

39 



the plant of its owner. * * * It is his 'Wonder' strain and 
laid 320 eggs in 365 days, and 512 eggs in 23 months, going 
through two complete moults. He had six 'Little Wonders/ 
bred from this one, entered in the Cambridge Laying Competi- 
tion, which were only four and one-half to five and one-half 
months old when entered, and had gone through a complete 
moult. When I left, had put up the good total of 900 eggs 
in seven months, notwithstanding these obstacles ; the last twelve 
weeks' totals averaging over thirty-nine." 

I have not seen any of Mr. Scott's ducks, bur the photo- 
graphs show them to be fair to good in carriage, but rather 
heavy in type. Naturally, a record so far beyond what we have 
been accustomed to think possible raises many eyebrows among 
us. Mr. Scott claims to have five strains, each of which has 
made a record of above 200 eggs average, "equal to and over 
the 300-egg record." He tells of a bird which laid 202 when 
from 2) J A to ^y 2 years old; and of three which laid 200 eggs 
each in eight and one-half months. 

It could not be expected that birds placed in competition 
many miles away from home, in strange hands, could do as well 
as they would do at home, under the owner's careful eye and 
hand. But the Cambridge Duck Egg-Laying Test reports, 
through its Secretary, that six Scott birds from four and one-half 
months old to five and one-half months old when entering the 
tests, and moulting twice during the year, made a total of 130 1 
eggs for the year, "and for 12 weeks averaged over 39 eggs per 
week." This is the pen mentioned above by my correspondent. 
This average means thirteen eggs per duck in each two weeks, 
for twelve weeks in succession. It is the Indian Runner Ducks' 
strongest bid for universal notice ! 

Personally, I would rather rest the case of the Indian Run- 
ner on this record, and the more than 200-egg record of the 
Australian Agr'l. College tests for three years in succession. 

[t seems, however, that there is no limit that can be set to 



40 



the claims. One photograph which I have seen purports to 
be of a Runner "from a gentleman that guaranteed that she laid 
339 e &£ s i n 3^5 days during her first season's laying." Most 
of her eggs were reported infertile. Perhaps this is the real 
limit! 

Naturally, Mr. Scott, although he raises Buff Orpington 
Ducks and Wyandotte hens, regards the Indian Runner as "the 
Queen of Layers." He also says that all the Wyandottes re- 
served for breeders in his pens for 191 1 have laid over 200 eggs 
each. He is a great believer in strain and stamina, and in 
bringing birds to maturity before permitting them to begin 
laying. In connection with the chapter on feeding, I give his 
method and kinds of feed used. And, if any one is getting too 
enthusiastic over Runners, I will try to balance him a bit by 
referring him to Mr. Rigg, who says that the Runner's laying 
capacity has been overrated. 

Doubtless, the majority of people are unaware that our 
veteran, Mr. I. K. Felch, furnished a sworn record, some years 
ago, of a Light Brahma hen having laid 313 eggs in one year. 
I am certain that the average Indian Runner duck will come 
nearer her "Wonder" average than will any breed of hens to the 
"wonder" record for hens. I know of one published record for 
an American hen, higher than this duck record, but it was not 
a sworn record, as far as I know. 

Straight to the point testimony from the people who are in 
the midst of the work, and who have to meet difficulties at 
every turn is one of the most valuable things we can have to 
give light on mooted points. Extracts from some other of the 
letters which came to me during 1910 will show further how 
people regard the two types. The Vice-President of one of the 
poultry clubs writes : "Give the public what it wants and what 
is right, but do not try to educate it up to take only what we 
have to offer, because it is a fad. People want something that 
will reproduce itself, and the light fawn color won't do it." 

From the far west, a man of convictions writes: "Throw- 
ing out the penciled type is an injustice to all its breeders as 

41 



well as to the true breed ; it is tearing down what we have been 
building up for years. Our own ducks have won over all kinds 
of so-called Indian Runners, scoring to ninety-six and a half and 
ninety-six and three fourths at state shows. We have been 
breeding this English type for eight years, and find no fault in 
them, while the fawn and white proved worthless under the 
same conditions. Why should the Revision Committee wipe 
either the English type or the American type off the face of the 
American soil ?" Please note that this letter was neither written 
for publication, nor for advertising, but is the outspoken ex- 
pression of a man's belief, which he supports by his practice. 
He says, also, in the course of his letter, that the American 
type "has neither carriage nor egg-laying qualities." 

If any are prompted to deny this last statement I refer them 
to an excerpt from a letter written from one of those Missouri 
men who never believe anything unless you can show 7 them. He 
says : "I have some mongrels, this year's hatch, from stock 
claimed to score 96, and some have neither marking nor type. 
They are white and fawn, but color not distributed as it should 
be, and carriage little more erect than my Rouens. Have a 
neighbor who has had no better luck. The eggs were green." 

The only man I happen to know of who has bred the Indian 
Runners continuously for more than a dozen years, Air. Fay 
Davis, Michigan, said in 1910: "It is a sorry fact to me to see 
the Standard makers try to spoil one of the utility points of the 
breed. I discarded, years ago, all my green egg type; now to 
go backward is a bitter pill to take." 

Publicly, Mr. Davis has said, after long experience : "I be- 
lieve that every duck that lays a large, pure white egg shows, 
at certain seasons of the year, a certain amount of penciling, 
which is very marked when the feathers are new, and becomes 
fainter when the feathers grow older. In my estimation, this 
penciling adds to the beauty of the plumage." 

42 



Mr. Davis also states that he has spent twelve years in 
selection of ducks that lay pure white eggs, and having right 
cheek markings and correct shape, and refers to "the cinnamon- 
colored (the new 'fawn!') ducks that lay the dark eggs and that 
are incorrect in shape." In 1910, I think, on buying a pair of 
cinnamon-colored, light fawn, Standard ducks, he got the small, 
dark eggs again. Surely, this man's testimony ought to count 
very strongly. I have been able to get the names of only two 
other breeders who were handling Indian Runners in America 
at the time when he took them up. The testimony of a man 
who has held to them all through their trial in this country, is the 
best testimony that we can get. Mr. Davis adds that he has 
no trouble in selling all that himself and his customers can raise 
of the English, white-egg stock, and that he knows of no other 
fowl that can compare with them in profit. The knowledge of 
the man who has known both types since their beginnings with 
us, is the knowledge which ought to save us from making future 
mistakes. 

Since the first edition of this book was put out, there has 
been a decided change of attitude toward the English type on 
the part of the breeders and judges in general. Miller Purvis, 
T. F. McGrew, one or two A. P. A. judges, and others as 
notable, have publicly favored the recognition of the English-bred 
duck as a separate variety, and it may be only a question of a 
few months before these penciled ducks will be freely admitted 
to the shows on their merits and judged by the English Stand- 
ard. It remains, then, for it to be generously admitted that 
the English type was the progenitor of the other, and therefore 
deserves first place. 

Many of the breeders of the rank and file, however, have 
tried hard to make it appear that the earnest effort of the fan- 
ciers of the English-bred type to protect themselves from busi- 
ness extinction was intended as an effort to drive American 
Standard birds out of existence, and their breeders "off the earth." 
No greater misconception could possibly be entertained. The 

43 



whole prestige of the fancy was brought to bear against the 
penciled ducks, until no visitor at a show would cast a glance 
at them. It was only the belief of their breeders that they 
were decidedly superior to the American Standard type in actual 
intrinsic value that kept the breeders of the English type from 
throwing up the game. A few dollars and a year's work might 
easily place any one of them on the popular side, at half the 
cost in wear and tear of holding to the English type. Yet they 
did hold to it, tenaciously. 

The matter of color is still a bone of contention. The 
English duck was described as "fawn" in color before there 
were any American Standard birds of the present color in 
existence. 

The matter of the name belonging especially to the first in 
the field, namely, the English type of Runner, is so plainly one 
of common-sense and fair dealing that I think no one can can- 
didly consider it without admitting the justice of the claims of 
the English type. But this does not seem to me now to be of 
very great importance. The mix-up on the word "fawn" is so 
hopeless that I think the only hope of straightening it may be 
to throw aside the adjective "Indian" entirely, and call one 
variety the American Runner, the other the "Penciled Runner," 
while the third sort comes in simply as the White Runner. 
From my correspondence with those who would really like to 
see the matter settled with justice to both, I think this way out 
would suit the majority. There is room enough for both 
varieties, surely. An occasional breeder here now keeps all 
three varieties. 

The Standard of the 1910 Revision has been so thoroughly 
discredited at many points that it must be very difficult, I think, 
for the next few years, to work up much loyalty to it. In the 
Indian Runner ranks, no one seems to be satisfied. 

The way the color question was working out before the 
last revision was shown very clearly in an exhibit at the Syracuse, 

44 



N. Y. Fair, the year of the last revision. The Standard then 
called for "light fawn". Criticisms without number were made 
on the rating of a certain bird, practically white, which, because 
of superior type, was given the blue. During the same Fair, 
in 191 1, I stood before the Runner coops, and saw a beautiful 
bird, as far as type went, with no prize. The bird was almost 
white. I asked a man who was demonstrating Runners, (evi- 
dently the leader in the winnings) why this bird was neglected, 
when at another time a bird of the same sort received first under 
the same judge. My supposed ignorance was not much en- 
lightened, for the smiling reply was : "Oh ! that was a mistake/' 
Later, I was told that it was this same bird that won the blue 
the previous year. 

As the initiated know, it was the loss of the word "light" 
from the Standard description that made the difference. Yet 
the columns of the poultry periodicals are still dotted with ad- 
vertisements describing the birds of rabid fighters for the Ameri- 
can Standard bird, which advertisements claim the owners to have 
the acme of the American Standard type; yet, they are described 
as "light fawn throughout." And the Standard calls for "light 
fawn" in tail of duck only! One breeder has declared in print 
that the American Indian Runner Standard is a joke, and that 
the bird it demands has never been bred and cannot be bred. 

In the matter of color of the birds and color of the eggs, 
it seems to me that some have subverted honest straightforward- 
ness to supposed business demands. I urged, last year, that 
those who were breeding to the English Standard say so clearly, 
so that none should be led into buying that which they might 
not want. Many of those raising the penciled duck have done 
this, I am glad to see. 

But Y — , a recent writer, a breeder of the American Standard 
type, supposed to be giving valuable information to the public, 
says : "There are two varieties of Indian Runner Ducks. One 
is the English Standard, a penciled variety, commonly known 

45 



as the brown and white; the other is the light (!) fawn and 
white, our own American Standard bird. The penciled ducks 
cannot compete with the American Standard fawn and white 
because they are disqualified on account of the penciling. The 
country is flooded with these inferior ducks, now being advertised 
as the 'true fawn and white.' ' This writer further speaks of 
them as "a non-standard bird, many of which lay green or blue 
eggs, for which there is no demand." 

This is amazing, coming from a breeder who has always 
had the green-egg birds till this year, who has suddenly acquired 
the only strain of white-egg Runners in the country ( !) and 
who has attained them by changing males in every yard every 
year (so says advertising). A breeder, too, whose birds are 
all of the new Standard light fawn and white stock and layers of 
snow-white eggs. 

The new Standard does not call for light fawn and white, 
and it does not disqualify the penciled birds. In brief, no writ- 
ing of equal length has contained so many actual mis-statements 
apparently for business's sake. The English birds are not com- 
monly known as ''brown and white," and those which I know 
do not lay green eggs. "There is no difference between the two 
varieties except in color, so far as their laying qualities are con- 
cerned," is a previous inconsistent statement of the above writer. 

The American Standard disqualifications refer to the dark 
breast known as "claret" and to the blue bars on wing, which 
are generally taken as showing foreign blood; beyond this, 
absence of feathers in the wings or twists in wings, back or tail, 
complete the list of special disqualifications, and I find nothing 
in the general disqualifications which applies to Indian Runners. 

The American Standard everywhere stands firmly for shape 
as making the breed. For instance, under Plymouth Rocks, it 
says : "The six varieties are identical, except in color." When 
it comes to the Indian Runner, the Standard allows 25 points 
out of one hundred for color, and 41 for shape. Yet, with 

46 



only 25 points on color, and 61 for shape and carriage, how is 
it that the light- fawn-and- white contingent, who testify that they 
haven't even the color called for by the American Standard, are 
spending their whole strength and falsifying facts to make out 
that the English-bred duck is so ''inferior?" This, too, when 
their self-elected spokesman says they "differ only in color." 

If the American public does find itself misled by the words 
"true fawn and white," it will be because it has been purposely 
tangled up by such writers as the above. There must be more 
than one shade of fawn : because the American Standard calls 
for darker fawn in head of drake than in other parts. Fawn 
color is a light, yellowish brown ; so says Webster. And if the 
Standard has no specific definition, it must accept the usual 
meaning of a word. Therefore, the English duck known as a 
"faurn" duck long before the American Standard style was in 
existence, has double claim to use the word "fawn," if its breed- 
ers so desire. 

But, despite this, I would personally prefer to have the 
word "penciled" come into general use, simply because no one 
can then make a mistake. 

A little worse, a little more unfair than the above is a state- 
ment from another breeder of American Standard Runners which 
appeared in print late in 191 1. A confiding old gentleman, an 
editor, recently become interested in Runners, asked about the 
green eggs. The breeder replied : "There may be a man who 
has one or two that will lay white eggs, but they will not do 
that all the season." This man has known Runners many years, 
and he could not possibly have failed to know that he was 
giving an impression fully equivalent to a lie, and deceiving his 
old friend with others ! And no one need take my word for 
it, because this same breeder, in another publication, at another 
time said, speaking of the two types : "They all lay a tinted egg 
once in a while. Contrast this with his "There may be a man 
who has one or two that lay white eggs," and you see the quality 
of the man. 

47 



Never mind about the Runner! She can prove her own 
value. But the deceived old gentleman says, in his paper: "I 
think friend X (we will call him) has given us pretty near the 
truth in the matter." N. B. — The old gentleman has friend 
X's strain of birds, which lay "green or bluish-green" eggs, he 
says. And ALL of Y's are advertised to lay snow-white eggs! 
Both, kindly remember, have the "true" American Standard 
kind, and nothing else! 

As a corollary and sufficient comment on the fairness of 
the whole matter, I may refer to a letter received about a month 
before this writing, from a county secretary. The letter states 
that the judge and other members of the A. P. A. at the show 
in this county, made it their especial business to tell every one 
they could reach that the Penciled Runners were worthless, that 
no one was breeding them, and that they could not be sold if 
raised. As every breeder of the penciled type whom I happen 
to know well has had far more orders both for eggs and for 
stock, than could be filled, these things look very much like false 
utterances induced by prejudice or else lack of knowledge; pos- 
sibly by both. 

Those breeders of the American type who, apparently, were 
not willing to give the English ducks any chance, have persistently 
denied the purity of the penciled type, although the great British 
show, the Crystal Palace, was giving them the leading prizes 
year after year, and the most prominent English breeders as- 
serted their superiority as a distinctive and pure type. They 
have denied its right to the original color, and have charged it 
with being a green-egg type. One man states that he does not 
know whether the tinted-egg layers are better than the others or 
not, because he has ducks that lay tinted eggs early in the sea- 
son and mostly white eggs later on. This man has bred ducks 
many years, and any one who has bred them but a season or 
two knows that ducks, at the beginning of the lay, often give 
eggs covered with a coating which does not belong to the shell, 

4 8 



and which washes off! I have, indeed, known a duck which 
had laid strictly white eggs for an entire season, to lay blue eggs 
five or six days in succession, once during the next season. 
But this does not stamp her as anything but a white-egg duck, 
for there was evidently something temporarily wrong, either with 
her digestive or her laying functions, and she was, normally, 
strictly a white-egg bird. A simple coating which can be re- 
moved is quite different from a shell filled with green coloring 
matter. 



49 



The Indian Runners 
Making History in 1910 



CHAPTER V 

Nearly every mail throughout the year brings inquiries as 
to the various types of Indian Runner, or recitals of experience 
with the breed in one type or the other. As to the birds them- 
selves, I have little difficulty in replying to questions. As to 
origin, history, etc., the people who have the facts have varied 
in their willingness to let the public have them — at least through 
this medium; and it has had them through no other medium 
thus far. The public wants these facts and it wants them badly. 

Several of the earlier breeders gave me all the help I asked. 
For this they have my hearty thanks, and I know that they will 
have that of the public which is interested in Indian Runners, as 
well. Others ignored my request, or answered far afield. To 
one breeder, I wrote thus: "Davis, of Michigan, tells me that 
you were one of the original breeders of Indian Runners. I 
want to find out just when they came into the United States 
and who imported them. Do you know who was the first, and 
whether or not the birds came from England? Also, how long 
ago? I see McGrew says little is known about them. I know 

50 



what English breeders say, but it seems to me that it ought to 
be possible to find out where United States breeders got them, 
and when the first were imported. It has been given out here 
that they came from the West Indies, which I do not at all be- 
lieve, unless the two types which we are breeding at present in 
this country had a different origin entirely. Reply would very 
greatly assist," etc. All but one of these questions was ignored 
in the answer. 

I had two ideas in mind in speaking of origin. The West 
Indian story, which I have refuted elsewhere, had gone all over 
the United States, and, having been credited to a reputable 
writer, who was a breeder of the Indian Runners before most 
of us had heard of them, it was quite generally accepted as fact ; 
especially by those who did not know much about the duck in 
England, and what the best English breeders had to say about 
it. Moreover, England and the West Indies have had many 
dealings, throughout many years, and it was not an incredible 
story, in the light of possibilities, that our Indian Runners should 
have come to us, in part, at least, through the West Indies. 

Aside from this, there was the possibility of different origins 
of different strains. Last winter, at the New York show, a man 
prominent in affecting the fate of Indian Runners in this coun- 
try by his public acts, said, in my hearing, that it would be very 
easy indeed to reproduce the Indian Runners by the use of two 
or three of our earlier breeds, — at least as far as the solid fawn 
marking, on white was concerned. All breeders of fancy fowls 
know, after they have a little experience with breeding and ex- 
hibiting, that no man dare say what blood is in any one strain 
of birds of any breed, when it has been long out of the origin- 
ator's hands. That "foreign" blood has been put into the Indian 
Runner of some strains, no breeder of experience and observa- 
tion can fail to see. Indeed, it is usually admitted, in a general 
way, although no one confesses to having introduced such blood. 
When a bird which, in its purity, should stand very erect, de- 

51 



generates into a logy, heavy bird which it is very difficult to breed 
out of the horizontal carriage, there is a reason — with apologies 
to the owners ( ?) of this clause ! And every experienced 
breeder knows in a general way what that reason is. When a 
bird that is, in its purity, rather definitely and strongly marked 
with a dark color, throws a large number of white specimens, 
as many complainants affirm that the "fawn" Indian Runners 
do, there is white blood back of it somewhere. White will not 
prevail so widely in the face of man's continual selection of the 
other sort, unless man has made the mistake of adding more 
white, and so has strengthened it. 

The fancier would not be unduly dependent on the Stand- 
ard, if he could depend on it not to change just as he got some- 
where near its demands. And, when the Association makes a 
mistake it is almost in honor bound to stand by it, or to recede 
from the point gradually, for the sake of those who have done 
its bidding, and bred to the false ideal. Nor can it afford, from 
one point of view, to admit that it has made a mistake, although 
many of its members will admit this personally. But the farmer 
must take what the fancier hands down to him, if he wants 
anything new in the way of a breed, and while the Association 
helps him on one hand, it injures him on the other. 

On the day before I write this chapter, a letter came in the 
morning mail, from one of a firm of farmers who evidently want 
to grow up into fanciers, but can by no means afford to ignore 
the utility side of breeding. The letter said : "I have some good 
Indian Runners, and want to keep only the best. However, my 
best ducks I cannot take to the Fairs, as they are too dark. Yet, 
they produce the eggs we prefer, — the white ones." 

On the day previous to the receipt of the above mentioned 
letter, I received another, inquiring about the white-egg sort, 
and saying: "I have some of the green-egg kind, but am not 
satisfied with the color of the eggs." A large breeder wrote me, 
the same week: "An inquirer, an M. D., writes to know if I 

52 




Trio — Motion Carriage " 



l! Queen mate' 



" Queen's Delight' 

"Penguina" 

(penciled) 

'Queen's Beauty" 
(in foreground) 



will sell ducks guaranteed to lay white eggs or money refunded; 
that he would not have layers of green eggs at any price, nor as 
a gift; that he would hardly eat them if well-cooked." Of 
course, this is largely a matter of personal whim, as far as not 
eating a green-shelled egg is concerned. But we need to re- 
member that the great bulk of the Indian Runner eggs must 
shortly be sold to the public at large, few of whom lack personal 
whims, of one sort or another. It is our business to humor 
those whims just as far as we may. And we know that the 
people of much of our country have been taught to demand white 
eggs ; whether it be a whim, or not, does not affect the fact with 
regard to the call for white eggs. 

A Texas rancher who thought to take Fortune by the top- 
knot, as it were, and haul her into his service, wrote as follows : 
"The penciled ducks are better than I thought. I thought I 
would order several pens from different parties and stock up 
on the best. My only wish is that I had bought all penciled 
Runners." The ducks had converted the rancher to the penciled 
type, before they had time to lay an egg for him. The solid 
fawn is so handsome, in the best specimens, that I should hardly 
expect such sudden conversion, but I have the buyer's own testi- 
mony, in writing, as to the fact. 

One or two letters which I have in hand are so bitter in 
expressing an opinion about the matter of change of type that 
I do not think it wise to publish them, even without signatures. 
One breeder, in especial, stated with hot comment, that he would 
hold to the genuine type, even if they should be disqualified by 
the American Committee, in the revision of the Standard. 

One letter, from an inquirer not at all familiar with the 
Indian Runner, asks many questions. Among others, "Are they 
hardy?" The descriptive adjective "hardy" usually appears in 
any recital of the virtues of these ducks, but no one has enlarged 
upon it, to my knowledge. When people ask such a question 
as this, I immediately wonder what they mean by "hardy." Able 

53 



to withstand snow? Cutting winds? Dampness? Extreme 
cold? What is "extreme"? We have the light winters of the 
south, and the 40-degrees-below-zero of the northwest. Which 
of these is the fair test? Or is it a point in between? I can 
testify to the limit of six below zero. I have seen Indian 
Runners, just maturing, running in the open, in December's 
bitter days, with not a bit of shelter but some small coops, which 
they ignored. The yards were strongly wind-swept, and the 
birds were out all night as well as all day. They sat on their 
feet, and hid their heads in their ruffs, when it was coldest, and 
especially during cutting winds. No one with any experience 
with fowls would expect eggs under such conditions, of course. 
But the ducks were doing well enough otherwise, and happy 
as larks, even on the snow, as soon as it began to thaw. I 
judge them to be hardier in some respects than any breed of 
hens I have had experience with — and that is a great many. 
"They do not require any shelter after they are grown," is the 
testimony of another breeder. Nevertheless, all who expect to 
get eggs at the north in the colder months must provide shelter, 
and see that the birds do not stay much in cutting wind. Too 
close shelter is not desirable, especially for breeding stock. 

All poultry yards, whether for hens or other birds, should 
have shelter on the sides toward the prevailing winds; this is 
only common-sense. Hedging, shrubbery, low-branching trees — 
any of these may afford the shelter needed. I think there is 
no doubt that the Runners would prefer a shelter consisting only 
of a roof, with thickly-branched shrubs for one or two sides; 
for they are very suspicious, and are much wilder when enclosed 
than when free to go about. Whether this would be warm 
enough to permit laying, I am not sure; think it doubtful, at 
least in the three worst months. The breeders who report that 
their birds lay "remarkably well" during the winter probably 
do not house them on the hither side of an iceberg; though even 
that would be more comfortable, it may be, than an open sweep 

54 



of cutting winds. Think a minute! Even inside your dwell- 
ings, unless very warmly built, a keen gale will make forty 
degrees difference next to the windward sides. How much 
more bitter will it be outside ! 

I see that one enthusiast says that hotels and restaurants 
will not use any other sort of eggs if they can get Indian Runner 
duck eggs. There is good sense behind the statement — regard- 
ing it rather as a prophecy — because these are the places that 
must often consider quantity; and in any table portion where 
eggs enter in as quantity, and not as eggs in natural form, two 
duck eggs will always take the place of three hens' eggs, so that 
these caterers need but pay for eight, instead of a dozen, to do 
the same work. 

As to the horde of bakers who are said to have been using 
rotten eggs lately, the Indian Runner breeder looks for no cus- 
tom from them. He will prefer to stick to the hotels and res- 
taurants which ''will not use any other kind" but big, sweet 
Indian Runner eggs. 

Messrs. M. and S., Indian Runner breeders of the middle- 
west, both of whom have kept both types of Indian Runner, 
testify to their experiences on the same page of a 1910 number 
of one of our poultry papers. Mr. S. states that he can find no 
difference in the laying quality of the two types, but refers to 
the tendency of the laced birds toward a dark head and rump, 
as a defect. But, this is exactly what the Standard they are 
bred to (the English) demands them to have! 

Mr. M., on the contrary, says that the laced birds are superior 
to the solid fawn sort in hardiness, and in the "production of 
more and larger white-shelled eggs." He also says that when 
the Indian Runner comes to be bred for market eggs mainly, 
"you must have a supply of large, white eggs to please the trade 
and obtain the highest price." Ten times its weight within the 
year, is what he avers that a laced duck of this breed, properly 
handled, will produce. He bases his preference fundamentally 

55 



on the fact that the laced birds are the stronger birds and the 
better layers. 

Mr. S. again, finds the solid colored birds easier to breed to 
Standard requirements, and thinks this is a virtue; while Mr. 
M. reiterates that it is the largest amount of white-shelled eggs 
that the people want, and thus stands for the English-bred pen- 
ciled birds. These, he breeds largely, and sells at good prices. 

If I have not, on the other pages of this book, made it 
sufficiently clear that I have no wish to coerce the fancier who 
likes the fawn and white birds into raising anything else, I want 
to do so now. But, I have seen his birds where he shows his 
best. I know them to have been inferior to the original type 
in several respects, because he has too far ignored true type, 
in a craze for a certain color. In doing this, as all know, he 
breaks, like many other breeders, a fundamental rule of the law- 
giving Association. But what of that? Is he not a fancier, 
and may he not do as he fancies? 

Neither, for any cause, would I put a handsome bird out 
of existence ; but I certainly would oppose her shoving aside 
the real claimant to honors; especially when it means that many 
a farmer, caught by the name and the fame of the "Indian Run- 
ner" will be deluded into buying the green-egg "solid fawn" 
type, only to "tear his hair" when these birds begin to lay. 

I first took this breed up to test it for the benefit of the 
thousands of readers of a prominent farm paper. I found it 
better than I expected, and I found many more people interested 
than I had looked to see. It is because of these people, and 
many others like them, who will in the future want to know 
as much as possible about the Indian Runners, that I have ven- 
tured to differ from that great and wise body, the American 
Poultry Association, and many of the good fanciers who com- 
pose it and to make that difference public, so that well-informed 
buyers may know what they are doing. 



56 



The Indian Runners 
Making History in 1911 



CHAPTER VI 

Early in 191 1, a breeder of the Penciled ducks wrote: 
Blank is advertising "eggs from the only white-egg strain of the 
fawn and white (American Standard) Runners in existence. 
You see, he saw 'the handwriting on the wall' and is quick to 
make a change." 

The next month, the following came to me from a man 
with common-sense and business ability, but who said: "I am 
a new hand with Indian Runners. I raised a few ducks last 
season, and bought a few of the same strain. About six weeks 
ago, an expert on poultry, a member of the Am. P. Ass'n., called 
to see my ducks. He wanted 100 eggs, but not with my dark- 
headed drakes. Well, I knew nothing about ducks, and I almost 
broke the hame-strap finding two drakes of the 'light fawn and 
white' for one pen. They have blue head and tail markings! 
Had I read your book before this 'expert' was here, I certainly 
would have given him the laugh! I will warm him up when I 
see him! I consider your book better than good. I am get- 
ting 20 to 23 eggs a day from 24 ducks. All are white eggs 

57 



save one. I have spoken for eggs from Eastern breeders of 
the 'light fawn and white/ said to be pure white-egg strain. If 
they hatch and I should raise some green-egg layers, I will raise 
a howl ! I tried hard to find stock of the 'light fawn and 
white' (I aim to keep both strains so I can please all, but the 
eggs must be white), but as yet no one guarantees straight white 
eggs, and I would not pay express charges on a duck that would 
lay green eggs. I think we Americans go to seed on color, 
especially that word 'fawn.' There isn't one person in a hun- 
dred that knows just what fawn is. I call it 'buckskin" ; and 
the penciled ducks 'buckskin brindle.' " 

On this same matter of color, Mr. Walton writes me, the 
week this chapter is being written: "Seems to me the judges 
must be far from even the American Standard, if, as some cor- 
respondents say, a penciled bird of superior type is put down 
behind a plain feathered one, however poor in shape and car- 
riage the latter may be. How does this come, when your Stand- 
ard gives two-thirds its points to carriage and type? One thing 
to be guarded against is the danger of faddist judges and breed- 
ers going for penciling, marks, OR ANY OTHER TRIVIAL 
POINT, and riding it to death." 

Touching the matter of white eggs, one breeder was quite 
indignant because I wrote him asking in especial if his birds all 
laid white eggs. "I have not got a Runner on the place that 
lays any color but a pure white egg" he writes. "I shipped eggs 
last season to every state in the Union ; also Canada, Cuba, Porto 
Rico, Hawaiian Isles and Mexico, and every Runner egg I sold 
was a pure white egg. I am one of the loudest enemies of the 
new Standard Fawn, green-egg strain, that ever existed. Shape 
makes the breed, and my idea is that white eggs should be one 
of the requirements of a good Runner." 

Another who bought foundation penciled stock direct from 
England says: "Have bred in line since, and consider that I 
have a distinct strain. They breed remarkably true. No slate- 

58 



colored specimens in this strain, and no green eggs. Every egg 
pure white and lots of them." 

Another says : "My stock is true to name, and they have 
laid nothing but large pure white eggs." 

I place this testimony as evidence, against the guesses — or 
worse — of those who say there are no strictly white-egg Run- 
ners. 

One or two letters may show the difficulties prone to arise 
when either breeders or buyers fail to state distinctly what they 
sell or what they may wish to buy. One correspondent writes : 
"I had my troubles with the green-egg runts and it cost me dear, 
but I found out in time to save 20 old ducks that were the right 
kind, and got stock from Canada and got on my feet again. The 
breeder I got my stock from is winning in Canada and mine 
are winning in my yards! That ideal egg farm that many people 
dream about will be realized sooner through the English white- 
egg strain of Runner ducks than in any other kind of poultry. 
I have a good farm here, but an old shack of a house, and poor 
buildings, and got in debt the first two years ; but the ducks are 
helping me get out of debt and keep square. When I get the 
buildings and shelter belts I think I can get all the rest with 
my ducks. The only way I will ever put new blood into my 
flock is to hatch the white egg myself!" 

The following shows even more clearly the chain of com- 
munity of interests that may lead to misinformation and loss ; 
also, the need of exact statements. This letter was received at 
mid-summer, 191 1: "I have a flock from an imported strain 
that lay a large, pure white egg. A few weeks ago, I ordered 

a sitting of eggs from X, who advertises in the Southern 

The eggs came ; two-thirds of them were small, dark green eggs. 
I could not set them and mix them with my flock of pure-bred 
ducks. I wrote to Mr. X, explaining why I did not want the 
eggs. He wrote back that I need not expect him to take the 
eggs back. Then I wrote him that I would let the Southern 

59 



decide whether I was mistaken about the pure Indian Runner 
laying a pure white tgg." The breeder wrote back that the 
editor was his personal friend and the customer might write 
as much as he pleased. The editor wrote the customer that duck 
eggs were "apt to be most any color." The buyer continued, 
in the letter I quote: "If the farm papers are going to uphold 
advertisers like this, how are the uninformed farmers to know 
whether they are getting purebred stock, or not? This is a 
matter that ought to be righted. If Mr. (the editor) is not 
familiar with the Indian Runner, why doesn't he inform him- 
self?" 

I wrote the inquiring customer, who believed he had a clear 
case, something like this : "I fear that, as your original order 
did not mention that you required white eggs, both law and 
justice are on the side of the seller, exasperating as the matter 
is to you. For, simply because the American Standard requires 
the solid fawn (and white) Runners, they are fairly supposed 
by fanciers to be TPJE Runners, unless the contrary is indicated 
in the buyer's letter. From the American Standard point of 
view, its kind of Runners are the 'true' Runners. You can 
now see why, in the book, I objected to the use of this word 
'true' as likely to be confusing." 

Nothing could give a clearer illustration from life of the 
point I am making, that a "gold brick" is being handed to farm- 
ers who order Indian Runners without knowing the facts, or 
even without specifying most clearly just what they are ordering, 
when they do know. They must say, if this is what they want, 
that they require the white-egg, penciled duck, bred to the Eng- 
lish Standard. All three of these points are now necessary, 
because the fanciers in general, seeing plainly now that the 
white egg must come, have begun to select from their flocks the 
birds which lay white eggs, and are advertising to meet the de- 
mand, "White-egg strains." It takes years upon years to build 
up a strain certain to breed true, and no one knows what green- 

60 




Full Waltons from Imported Stock 

(Artist spoiled this cut, leaving shadows on right hand birds, and thickening 
neck of one on left.) 





VF'^- J, - J ?' ~~ — T — ^ ?— 1 






_ 
' > A 







A "Walton" Pair Female in Foreground 



egg ancestry, near or remote, these ducks of theirs may have 
had. Mr. Walton states that the Walton strain of Indian Run- 
ners never laid anything but white eggs. 

An old breeder of American Standard ducks affirms that 
"by proper selection" breeders can soon have them all laying 
white eggs. In time, possibly this will be the outcome. But 
what really happens, now, is this : Customers who make requisi- 
tion for white eggs from such breeders, may get them, and 
farmers who are not informed and who do not ask for white 
e ggs get the green eggs that are culled out. This is but human 
nature, and would be considered strictly fair by most breeders, 
for the reason that the Standard says nothing about the color 
of the eggs. If the customer also is silent on this point, the 
inference is that he does not care. Once more, then: From 
the American Standard point of view, the plain fawn ducks, with 
white markings are strictly purebred; from the English Stand- 
ard point of view, they are another variety, and, the English 
have the prior claim by at least fifty years. 

Not all imported English ducks lay white eggs. . But any 
one who has a strain that lays large, white eggs and plenty of 
them, and keeps it up year after year, is all right for market 
eggs, no matter what they are called. 

The one thing that comes most clearly out of this mix-up 
is that we have two distinct varieties of Runners. The injustice 
lies in the newer sort trying to substitute itself for the prior 
claimant, instead of coming in as an additional variety. The 
Indian Runner is a penciled bird ; the American Runner is plain, 
because the American Standard demands it to be so. 

A breeder who says that he has tried both parti-colored 
varieties, and would prefer the American Standard ducks if 
they were as good tgg producers as the penciled, gives his ex- 
perience in very vivid language, almost extravagant. I do not 
know him personally, and I have found no one who does, but 
he has all the prestige of the American Poultry Association 

61 



behind him, since he is a licensed judge, and no judge can be 
licensed without other good judges to vouch for his work and 
his integrity, if my memory is correct with regard to A. P. A. 
law. He says the ducks of the English penciled type are "the 
greatest layers of the age." He admits that there are a few 
strains of the American Standard birds that are "really great 
layers," but says, in general, that fanciers have given their 
strength to getting color till many strains are "worthless" for 
egg production. 

Mr. T. F. McGrew, whose judgment is considered so good 
that his name has been mentioned widely and favorably for 
the Presidency of the American Poultry Association, after Mr. 
Hicks gets tired of it, said this, under date of October 4, 191 1, 
in a private letter to me : "The proper solution of the problem 
would be to have two varieties and not to try to push out the 
fawn and white with the other variety. I am at a loss to under- 
stand why it is that people who are interested in Indian Runner 
Ducks cannot see that the laced (or penciled, as you prefer) 
should be classed as a separate variety of Indian Runner Ducks." 

Inasmuch as this is but the attitude of working common- 
sense, I am indeed glad to have such a deliverance from a man 
standing so high as Mr. McGrew, on this question. But I trust 
that Mr. McGrew and all others will remember that it was the 
sustained and determined effort to discredit the Penciled variety 
utterly in this country which set its advocates upon the up-hill 
work of saving it to the United States farmers. 

Mr. Walton says that, leaving color entirely out of the 
question, either as to eggs or the feathers, "the most erect, quick- 
running type of Indian Runner is the best foraging and laying 
duck in existence." The level-bodied varieties, he states, "can't 
touch it; but, it does not lay 240 eggs in 240 days, nor does it 
usually lay 320 in a year, and what is more, it doesn't tell lies, 
and it doesn't ask any one to tell them for it." He has tried 
the strains making the greatest claims, in England; and, as 

62 



Secretary of the Indian Runner Duck Club, he has unusual op- 
portunities to know the best that is in existence, and to get it 
if it is any better than what he previously had. He stated 
positively early in 191 1, "The penciled- fawn-with-white, white- 
egg-laying Indian Runner is the purest blood you can get at 
present, and there is a greater demand than supply." 



63 



The Worst About the 
Indian Runner 



CHAPTER VII 

If we are to tell the best about a breed, it is only fair de- 
fense of those who cannot exercise sound judgment as to their 
own chances, to tell the worst, also. Let us plunge in, therefore, 
and have the worst over! 

"The Worst", please note, falls under two heads : that 
brought out by experience, and that brought forth by guesses, 
or on general principles, or in fear that this natty little duck 
is going to hurt the sales of hens, or even in order to attract 
attention and rush in where the experienced "angels" fear to 
tread. 

I think every reader will see, instantly, that it is unlikely 
that any person in the country has scanned with a keener eye 
every line about the Indian Runner during the last year, than 
the author of this book, myself. The word "Indian Runner" 
looks to me to be written in raised type, so quickly does it catch 
my eye. Doubtless, I have not seen all; but I have all the im- 
portant poultry publications and many of the lesser ones, and in- 
terested readers all over the country write, calling attention to 
notable articles or items. 

64 



. . In my own correspondence, one person wrote as follows, 
speaking of "enthusiastic" correspondents: "I know the breed. 
Ours is a land of liars. No sooner does a man tell a good story 
than his neighbor considers it a duty to go him one (I should 
rather say three) better. Just now, Runners are on the run, 
and Leghorns are getting a rest. My 21 produced eleven eggs 
yesterday (a banner day) ; to-day, three. Be amiable in spite 
of this. You see, I love them in spite of all." This was writ- 
ten in March. Also in March, he said: "I think the Indian 
Runner an over-estimated bird. From 23 ducks, I am getting 
only eight eggs a day." Later, this correspondent was himself 
enthusiastic about the Runners. 

Recently, a Runner breeder wrote to this effect: "Did you 
see how Rigg is hammering Indian Runners? What's he but- 
ting in for?" Mr. Rigg is a dignified, experienced journalist 
and poultry writer, whose honesty of intent no one questions. 
If he has raised Runners, I don't think the public knows it. But 
this is what he said, when asked to explain what he meant by 
his "warning in regard to the Indian Runner Duck boom" : 

"The Indian Runner Duck boom has taken on large propor- 
tions, and many people have been led to believe that this duck 
is more profitable to the egg farm than any breed or variety of 
fowls. We wanted to warn our friends that the merits of this 
duck as an egg-producer have been over-stated. It is a very 
prolific egg-producer, to be sure. But there is not the market 
for duck eggs that there is for eggs of fowls." He goes on to 
say that duck raising requires a special location, while "most any 
piece of good land" is suitable for fowls, and that the good 
duck location "is an exceptional one." Mr. Riggs then repeats : 
"Again we advise our friends to be careful how they go into 
this new breed." 

As to "over-statement," I wonder if Mr. Riggs knows of 
a single breed of hens whose merits as egg-producers have not 
been over-stated ! Probably no such breed or variety exists. 

6S 



As to "most any good land" being suitable for fowls, Mr. Rigg 
most certainly does not score there, for the very specialness 
about the duck location is that it doesn't need good land; the 
waste places being especially suited to it. I saw, in a dinky 
little stream in New York state, — a stream with a dozen turns 
and twists, possibly, — to every two or three rods, and widely- 
bordered by swale, a flock of fifty most beautiful Runners: the 
thriftiest, happiest lot of birds one could ask to see. \s to 
productiveness, these were not yet of laying age ; but their im- 
mediate ancestors, a small lot, had laid ioo per cent for the 
flock, 83 times— that is on 83 different days — in less than eight 
months. If my friend, Mr. Rigg thinks this is exaggeration, 
I can give him dates and figures from the daily memorandum. 
These were strictly half- Walton birds. 

A letter from another doubter — out on the west coast — reads 
as follows : "I think Mr. Robinson has hit off the Indian 
Runner boom about right in the June F. P. I admire him 
for his sane and logical treatment of poultry questions. About 
the Runners, perhaps they will be mortgage-lifters, as long 
as their eggs can be sold for hatching, but, as market eggs, 
I can't see it. What Yd like to find out is the truth of that 
assertion about Indian Runner eggs bringing as high as 20 per 
cent premium over hen eggs for market. They don't do it 
here. Even Mrs. Mellette, with all her booming of their super- 
iority over hen eggs, had to acknowledge that the peddler who 
buys up eggs in town wouldn't take her duck eggs. I asked 
my grocer, who keeps rather a fancy line of goods and pays 
me above quotations for 'extras', for my White Leghorn eggs, 
about the sale of duck eggs. He said they never took the duck 
eggs; there were few who would buy duck eggs. So, there 
you are." 

So far as the 20 per cent premium on duck eggs is con- 
cerned, I may say that I have personally seen commission receipts 
where not only 20 per cent, but 50 per cent above the price for 

66 



hen eggs was received. But this is not a customary difference. 
The peculiarity of the market for duck eggs is explained in the 
chapter devoted especially to this part of the question. 

The reference of the above correspondent to Mr. Robinson, 
brings us logically to speak of his opposition. I think he is the 
only one of the poultry editors who has put himself in con- 
tinuous and persistent opposition to the Indian Runner. He is 
recognized as a man of honesty; also as a man of stubborn 
prejudice. But, inasmuch as his own statement in a somewhat 
recent article of some length shows that his opposition is directed 
to "the Sham Indian Runner," we need give him no further 
notice. It is the Genuine Indian Runner with which this book 
aims to deal. 

Just one more instance from the ranks of "the Opposition" 
may serve to fortify readers against the enthusiasm of the breed- 
ers quoted, or a blind reliance on the words of the present writer. 
This is noted from the only unfavorable review on the first edition 
of this book which has come to my notice, (the editors being other- 
wise uniformly kind in their reviews, and recognizing the value 
of having a book on the Indian Runner giving facts straight 
from the yards of many breeders.) The one opposing editor 
says : "This is another partisan book, professedly written to 
boom the Indian Runner Duck. It is unfortunate that all the 
information one can obtain about these ducks is furnished by 
partisan breeders of them, and probably needs to be taken with 
the proverbial grain of salt! That they are great layers is 
undoubtedly true [Hope Mr. Rigg saw that!], but that one of 
them laid 320 eggs in one year may well be doubted until we 
can have some reasonable proof of it other than just a mere 
say-so. The Indian Runner is a very small duck. What 
little meat there is on them is of excellent quality. Poultry 
keepers who cater to the duck-egg trade will probably do well 
to take up Indian Runners for egg production, but growers of 
duck meat will doubtless continue to breed the Pekin." In my 

67 



view, the above contains the following points which might ren- 
der it, too, wisely taken "with the proverbial grain of salt" : 
item, one error of judgment; item, one mis-statement; item, 
one prophecy already discredited by the facts ; item, one declara- 
tion showing that the book had not been carefully read. 

It seems to me that it is an error of judgment to seek to 
give the impression that outsiders, be they editors, or what not, 
can know better about any breed than its breeders. It is a mis- 
statement to say that this book was written "professedly" to 
boom the Indian Runner. The prophecy that duck meat grow- 
ers would hold to the Pekin is proved false in one large plant 
during 191 1, as shown in another chapter. The assumption 
that this book carried the idea that 320 eggs a year was easily 
possible could not have been made, had the reviewer read the 
pages given to discussing this and several other abnormally 
high records. 

The way people read things seems to make a tremendous 
difference in the facts, as far as they are themselves con- 
cerned. Those who had the first edition will know that I re- 
ferred to all the large records as unproven. I also stated that 
we had had Indian Runner Ducks, raised wholly in confinement, 
begin to lay "while still just less than four-and-one-half months 
old," adding, "It is not common to them to lay quite so early 
as this." A beginner who had raised nine from ten hatched 
said : "But I cannot agree with you as to your statement of 
early laying. Mine were hatched Aug. 13 and 14; have not 
laid yet. There is quite a difference between this and four and 
one-half months, the claim you make (!)" As I had taken 
special pains to say that the late hatched Runners were rather 
apt not to lay until seven months old, I felt that this reader had 
(not intentionally, of course) mis-represented me. 

The keen reader will have noted that the above, which 
covers the really damning things which have been said in the 
few months just past about the Indian Runner, are all from "the 

68 



audience." Not one, so far as is knozvn, has bred the Runners. 

One or two adverse opinions from people who have bred 
them — all that I have seen — are, it will be noticed, far less 
virulent in their criticism. One correspondent of "Gleanings"* 
the well-known bee magazine, writes : For a person who has 
unlimited green feed and range, perhaps they are all right; but 
where all feed has to be bought and no clover or alfalfa avail- 
able, I do not think them a great money-maker. 1 have had 
them nearly a year, and cannot recommend them to any town 
person, or one who has not the above necessities to enable him 
to make a good portion of their feed inexpensive." 

Referring to the prejudice against duck eggs, the same 
writer says : "No matter how groundless it is, it is there, and 
the public will have to be educated up to the value of the white 
egg of the Indian Runner before there is an unlimited market for 
them, Personally, I think them as good as hens' eggs; but the 
average person, in this part of the world, anyway, does not think 
so, and I have met this prejudice when disposing of those I had 
for sale." 

One other says: "I do not think that ducks will replace 
hens to any extent, on our chicken farms. It takes almost twice 
as much to keep a duck as it does a hen." This, let it be noted,, 
is a general statement, tacked on to a discussion of Runners in 
such a way that it appears to include the Runners. As some 
ducks weigh four pounds, others more than twice this, and as 
there is even more difference among hens, the folly of such a 
general statement is apparent. One of the worst points about 
the Runners is that the mature males are often troublesome and 
somewhat brutal. They must not be allowed where the young 
are kept, as they may "scalp" them. Other breeds of fowls, 
however, are sometimes as bad in this respect. 



69 



The Best About the 
Indian Runner 



CHAPTER VIII 

In this chapter, as in the foregoing, I shall use only material 
which has come to light since the first edition was sent to the 
publishers. Moreover, it will not be an outsider's say-so, 
but direct from those in the work. I cannot, of course, vouch 
for the accuracy of the statements, any more than I can vouch to 
you my own accuracy and truthfulness. You must judge from 
your knowledge of human nature and the probabilities. Most 
of these letters have come to me in the regular line of acquaint- 
anceship or of business ; some of them because I was the author 
of the book. I know no reason to doubt any one of them, other 
than that it is human to question that which exceeds the normal, 
or that which we have believed normal. But there is so much 
of this "Best" testimony, and it is so strong, that I can only 
defend you from getting over-enthusiastic by urging that you 
read "the best" and "the worst" always at the same sitting! 

We might begin with the personal testimony of the editor 
of "Gleanings" before referred to. I do not think there is a 
man in the United States whose unsupported word would be 

7 o 



taker) quicker and by more people than " Brother Root's". In 
one issue, Mr. Root says: "To-day is April 6, and my one 
Indian Runner duck I have several times mentioned is still lay- 
ing her egg a day, and she has done this now for almost if not 
quite 100 days without a break. I have read stories like this, 
but I fear I shall have to confess I never expected to own a 
fowl of any sort that could give a big, white egg (or perhaps I 
should say, rather, a bluish-green egg) for over three months, 
without a skip." In the next issue, appearing two weeks later, 
Mr. Root refers to "that Indian Runner duck that laid over ioo 
eggs without a miss." The following issue contained a story 
of another Indian Runner Duck, the report, supported by a 
signed affidavit, stating that one of its writer's Indian Runners 
had laid 98 eggs in 96 days. "Eggs are large and white," the 
report continued. 

The editors may as w r ell continue their innings: Miller 
Purvis, editor of "Poultry" — a leader among poultry papers — 
said early in 191 1, concerning some new Penciled Runners: 
"We received the three ducks and the drake March 3. One 
duck laid Mar. 12, and the next day two of them laid. Then 
all three of them began to lay regularly, and up to this time, 
(25 days after we picked up the first egg) we have got 72 eggs, 
lacking three of getting one a day for each duck for 25 days. 
Every one of these eggs has been pure white. Tested by cook- 
ing, we have been unable to detect any difference between them 
and eggs, from our hens." He goes on to say: "If they con- 
tinue as they have started out, we are inclined to think our egg 
ranch will be largely stocked with Indian Runners in the end." 
To which Mr. Root adds: "If his experience and mine are not 
the exception, no wonder lie is coming to the same conclusion 
as myself — that all his chicken business hereafter will be con- 
siderably along the line of ducks." Editor Purvis is located out 
in far Idaho, as we of the east regard it. 



Turning now to my private correspondence, the first letter 
I pick up says: "All lay white eggs; 49 ducks laid from Feb. 
15 to July 15, 150 days, 5316 eggs; up to Aug. 15, 180 days, 
6006. Note that this is for a business flock, and that the aver- 
age is 20 eggs a month for each duck, all through, or'" 120 each 
in six months." This is not high, but it is one-half higher than 
the average record for hens in a full year, with six full months 
yet to hear from. This report is from California. 

The next report is virtually the same, viz., 20 eggs a month 
from the Middle of Feb: to the middle of July. It continues : 
"They are now laying right along (over 50 per cent) and show 
signs of moulting. Seven-eighths of the feed I have given 
them has been cracked corn. They have had no wet mash. 
Since the ice broke up they have had the run of the mill pond 
across the road. They have also laid eggs around the farm 
which I have not counted, though I often come across one or 
more. They have not offered to sit. Their pen is an old cow 
shed on north side of barn. About 25 rats also occupy this 
pen. (I caught eight once last week.) They may get some 
of the eggs before I get up in the morning." 

A letter which came from the far south says : "I now have 
seven ducklings which will be seven weeks old to-morrow. I also 
have a lot of Barred Rock chicks which are just three days 
younger. This morning, I concluded to weigh some of each, 
and compare them. All my ducks weighed more than two 
pounds each, two of them tipping the scales at two and one-half 
pounds each. My largest chick weighed about three-quarters 
of a pound. When I first set my eggs poultrymen advised 
against it, on the ground that they would eat me out of house 
and home. They do eat more than a chicken, but they can be 
raised on bran and chopped alfalfa or oats, with a little meat 
thrown in, and this is the cheapest kind of feed. Even if they 
ate twice as much as a chicken, they would still be just as profit- 
able, for they will grow more than twice as fast as a chicken 
during the first ten weeks." 



It will be noticed that those who say the ducks eat more 
are speaking of the growing ducks. The last clause, "they will 
grow more than twice as fast as a chicken during the first ten 
.weeks," explains this. Fowls must eat for growth; rapid growth 
must mean good appetites. 

The letter continues : "You don't have to talk to convert a 
poultryman to the Indian Runner, if he can see them occasionally 
and watch them grow." 

The next correspondent has also a word to say about feed 
and feeding. He advertised that his ducks laid all winter, and 
I wrote to ask about it. He replied : "Will say that my ducks 
do lay all winter, but of course I feed them good, as nothing- 
will lay without feed. I feed a soft feed of bran and corn meal 
and clover and oyster shells. Yes, they lay a much larger egg 
than chickens and the eggs sell for more a dozen. One flock 
of 60 have a record of 212 in ten months." 

On the question of feed, another says, incidentally, "my 
millman made a mess of feed order,' and my ducks, that were 
laying some twenty eggs the fifteenth of Jan. (a 36 per cent 
yield) went down to zero, and I have just hunted out the cause 
and found it and started them again." 

To-day's mail, (Nov. 12, 191 1) brought in an Institute 
Worker's report from a flock which I visited during the sum- 
mer, and which was then making, I thought, a very creditable 
record, indeed. These were strictly "half-Waltons," and the 
owner was a beginner with Runners, who had bought eggs and 
had raised a small flock in 1910, just as any farmer would. The 
letter says : "The old ducks are still laying; at just nine months 
from beginning, they had averaged 185 eggs per bird. To date, 
the record is 196. I can scarcely possess my soul in patience 
until they lay the few required to make a 200-egg record* 

"I read in the last 'Reliable,' " the letter continued, "that 



♦Later, this average was increased to 200 plus with 40 days yet 
to make out the year. 

73 



they make a better record the second year than the first; if so, 
they certainly are profitable from the stand-point of egg produc- 
tion alone. The young sprouts have begun to lay a little." 
This report is from the Middle States district, the ducks being 
kept on farm, free-range conditions. It is on this class of re- 
ports that I rely most to give us an idea of what "the Leghorn 
duck" will do with good handling under conditions available 
to every farmer, with watered land and without. These par- 
ticular ducks had a stream to which to resort at will daily. 

You will be glad to learn, I think, that Mother L. (the wife's 
elderly but high-spirited mother) takes practically all the care 
of these birds. They had no special extra care in the winter. 
No green stuff was available till May, and no meat till early 
April. Mash of bran and middlings, with corn and buckwheat 
for grain, completed this simplest of rations. But I will whisper 
to you that the lady in charge is a liberal feeder. I am sure her 
interest and care make at least a part of the reason for good 
returns. 

And as to the record,— if you could see, as I did, the little 
thin book with its daily "number laid," such as you may see on 
any farm, you would know it was all straight. As for myself, 
I would sooner distrust my own record, or that of any one of 
the Experiment Stations ! 

Another farmer, in the same state, writes : "One of the 
April ducks laid when eight days less than five months old, and 
an Embden yearling goose laid 18 eggs this fall ; and they were 
not fed 'lay, or bust,' either." 

My own birds have been doing better than I should have 
the face to ask them. Nearly 43 per cent of the old ducks still 
on hand were laying the third week in October; the earliest of 
the young were not hatched till April 21st. They had been 
laying some time, and by the second week in October, about 40 
per cent of the ducks from the first three broods were laying. 

74 



One correspondent wrote that he had not believed he would 
like Runners and so killed all his drakes the first fall. A year 
from the following December, he wrote me saying that the 
ducks had begun laying in February and "I still get some eggs." 
This letter came Dec. 8, from New York state. 

One man stated that 115 ducks had, one morning, produced 
117 eggs. This can come, of course, only through some duck 
giving an egg in less than 24 hours. It is very exceptional, but 
I have seen similar reports published in several instances. One, 
with affidavit, was of 98 eggs from 96 ducks. But, of course, 
no one expects or asks for such results. Such reports come at 
the height of the season, and probably under forced feeding. 
Mr. Scott, the man claiming the 320-egg record, states that he 
did not force this duck, except at the last, when he feared she 
would just miss a 300-egg record. 

I do not think it either wise, or just, to insist that people 
believe a private record which far transcends any average ex- 
perience even with birds well-cared- for. I do not know Mr. 
Scott, except through his circular and correspondence. I have 
sometimes prided myself on my knowledge of human nature, 
however, and Mr. Scott seems to me to be a man of honest inten- 
tion. He has kindly furnished me with his feeding formula, 
which will be found in another chapter. I bought this informa- 
tion for the benefit of the farm contingent of Runner breeders. 
It does not differ so much from average practice as one might 
expect. Mr. Scott believes especially that birds expected to 
lay heavily should be well matured before beginning their work. 

The New Hampshire farmer who wrote of the 117 eggs 
from 115 ducks also wrote that they averaged 112 eggs a day 
for nearly a month. But he added: "I don't dare tell this to 
those who have had no experience with the Indian Runners, but 
I know those who have will believe 'most anything of them." 

The fact that the Runners are non-sitters helps out the rec- 
ords. An occasional "freak" will try to sit, as with Leghorns. 

75 



The bane of the poultry beginner is that he expects always 
the best results he has seen noted. If he could form a habit of 
expecting an average of the good and the bad, to begin with, 
there would often be more chance of his continuing a poultry 
raiser long enough to get the better results. There are top many 
things to learn, for every one to succeed, off-hand, "The 'Fail- 
ures' in the poultry ranks are nearly always found among those 
who expect too much," says a recent writer. 

One breeder, in his circular, says that three ducks' eggs are 
equal to five hens' eggs in weight and food value; also, that 
the Runners are practically grown at eight weeks, continuing: 
"Last year, we had clucks laying at fifteen weeks of age." 

These claims seem to me to be rather beyond reason. Only 
extremely exceptional conditions could possibly make them true. 

Another breeder says that 60 per cent of the ducks' feed is 
water! All who credit it will, of course, breed ducks. 



76 



The Indian Runner and the Farm 



CHAPTER IX 



A letter concerning Indian Runners which came to me in 
December, 1910, says: "I've tried several breeders in the north 
and south to find one who bred the white-egg duck. One, I 
believed, and parted with my money, only to discover that I had 
bought 'green' ducks. The breeder claimed she could fill my 
demand, as both parents and grandparents, for that matter, were 
hatched from white eggs." 

Another farmer, who does a business large enough to run 
about 1200 eggs in incubators through April, and who has re- 
cently made a start with English-bred Runners, says : "I have 
picked out six females, all marked alike, fawn with concentric 
penciling, and will reserve same for our own breeding. Our 
females are well taken care of and with good care and attention 
to them I am looking for a great egg yield. I am going to write 
up a piece to have published later about a farmer's experience 
with Indian Runners, and I hope it will have weight with that 
class. For if the average farmer can get eggs in winter from 
the Runners when their hens do not lay, you can rest assured 
they will have some." 

77 



Because I see no future before the Indian Runner, even- 
tually, except as a farm duck, I am especially glad to get the 
farm point of view. The above letter was sent on to me by a 
breeder in another state, that I might see how farm interest was 
developing. It will be noted that, although the writer carries 
far more than the average of poultry on a farm, as evidenced 
by his incubating so many eggs, he is looking for something that 
can do better in winter than is customary with hens. He is of 
the better class of farmers, we can guess, because he selects 
uniformly marked birds for breeding. He has enterprise, as 
is shown by the facts noted, and by his plan to write up his ex- 
perience where it will attract other farmers. Beyond what his 
letter may thus show us, I know nothing about him. But I 
wish the country was fuller than it is of farmers with several 
of the characteristics which show in this letter. However, deal- 
ing continually, in my work, with queries from farmers all over 
the country, I can testify that there are many more of the class 
who have enterprise, education and good hard sense than people 
who do not come into touch with them are ready to believe. 

There are already many types of Indian Runners in the 
country, entirely aside from the two very distinct and opposing 
ones to which so much reference has already been made. It is 
almost impossible for any breeder to put his hand to a breed 
without transforming it to some extent. This is abundantly 
shown even in the references to the "strains" of different breed- 
ers, and to the differing claims made by advertisers. How are 
these changes made? Often — very often — by "hocus-pocus." 
That is, by putting in a dash of any blood which a breeder may 
think will bring the birds nearer to his ideal — usually an ideal as 
to feathers and form, rather than as to production. Production 
cannot be ignored, to be sure, but it is made to take at least third 
place ; for color comes first with the average fancier, then form, 
then, if he has no other hobby to work out, production, possibly. 

78 



But is is also true that no two breeders can take even the 
same strain, with birds very similar, and, working entirely apart, 
show the same type of birds at the end of five years. Each puts 
his own stamp upon the breed, or variety. It may be that all 
the change has been made by selection of eggs. It may be that 
it has been made only in the selection of birds to carry on his 
work. The fact remains that each worker is practically certain 
to put his own special stamp, "his mark," upon the birds which 
he will soon call his "strain." 

A breeder who was especially anxious to preserve and con- 
tinue a certain type, wrote another for birds of that type, to be 
descended from birds sent out from the yards of the first, some 
years earlier. It was made plain that only such birds were 
wanted. The testimony of the first breeder to the outcome is as 
follows: "I asked, before ordering, if they were just as had 
of me, and in return the breeder wrote that they were my strain, 
pure (with the words underlined). When they came and I ex- 
amined them, I could see that other blood had been used; the 
penciling was different, not so distinct, of a prettier shade of 
fawn, if anything; but they were hardly as good in shape and 
style, and I was in a panic. I thought I would return them, but 
finally sold most of them, telling the customers just what they 
were. The remaining suspects I shall put in a yard by them- 
selves and observe them." Eventually, it came out that the 
breeder from whom these ducks came had had one male from 
a third breder running with the females of the first breeder's 
stock. There was no suspicion of intentional error, as far as I 
know, for breeder number two was considered honest; but the 
incident shows both how soon change of strain shows in the 
progeny, and how difficult it is to get just what one wants and 
definitely orders. Human nature seems to have a strangely 
transforming effect on varieties of fowls! 

A breeder who had had fawn ducks of two types, from two 
breeders, wrote me: "I am satisfied that I hurt the laying 

79 



qualities by use of the light strain, (the second lot)." Both these 
acquisitions proving to be layers of green eggs, this breeder 
bought birds again, the third lot being from a well-known white- 
egg strain. Another change then made itself manifest, of which 
he writes: "My old ducks could not and would not fly under 
any circumstances like the last ones. One of the new is far 
ahead of any I have ever seen in upright carriage, and I would 
like to get all of mine of that type." 

There is one pointer here that is worth noting. The white 
egg ducks in 1910 were of the more active type, and also of 
better carriage than anything furnished this breeder by two of 
the very best breeders of the solid fawn strains. 

Being a very honest man, the writer of this letter was 
anxious to know about the tendency to flying because he had 
told customers that a two- foot fence would confine these ducks. 
I chanced to have a personal word to add to the solution of this 
problem, because I had bred for some time the very strain he 
reported as being such flyers, and had never used anything but 
a two- foot fence to confine them, nor ever known them to fly 
over it. But it is perfectly easy to train these birds, or any 
others, to be breachy, by using fences too low or too weak when 
the birds are young and most active. The size of yards, too, 
may have an influence on this especial characteristic. Small 
yards, which offer no good starting point for strong flight, will 
often confine the bird — any birds — much better than larger yards. 
That is, not such high fences will be demanded. It is in the 
daily and yearly learning of such things as these as they come 
along, that any poultry raiser gets "knack" and accumulates a 
store of wisdom on innumerable points which it is simply im- 
possible to pass on in entirety to any other worker. It is one 
point at a time usually. 

Just before we went to press with the first edition of "The 
Indian Runner Duck Book," an authoritative letter from Eng- 
land was received. It told of many inquiries for cheap birds 

80 



coming from America and said: "There is no one with real 
good type birds willing to sell at utility prices. In fact, I have 
seen birds for which ten to twenty pounds (about fifty to one 
hundred dollars) was asked, of very bad type and carriage; in 
my opinion, fit only for the pot. I think it unfair to ask those 
who have really good birds to sell them for killing prices, al- 
most." Concerning one of the newer American theories as to 
the origin of Indian Runners, the same breeder says : "It is 
worth framing, as it is one of the most incorrect and ridiculous 
articles I have seen, and the writer is entirely at sea. 'The 
Common Mongrel, etc./ would have been a more appropriate 
title." 

In this connection, I may say that there is a movement in 
England at this writing which promises to develop into the 
publication of a thorough and reliable book on the Indian Run- 
ner, giving all that is now known about its history, from the 
first to the present time. This is certainly a movement in the 
right direction, and I shall look with much interest for the pur- 
posed publication. 

The Patent Office at Washington has recently been showing 
symptoms of interest in the Runners, through an employe. 
Whether they are to be patented, or not, is not yet announced. 
If so, many breeders will be on tdge to learn zvhich type will thus 
receive recognition ! 

In other directions, also, matters are moving. I think it 
was late in 1910, though I am not quite certain as to the date, 
that a breeder in the east sent a trio of English-bred Indian 
Runners to the Government Experiment Station of Porto Rico, 
for experimental purposes. It is quite time some one in author- 
ity was doing something with these ducks, on this side of the 
Atlantic ocean. For, if the things which Indian Runner breed- 
ers have been saying have been untrue, they would result in 
uncounted waste of money for the thousands of farmers who 
will try them. Whereas, if they can be proved true by so,ne 

Si 



of those in whom the farming contingent have confidence, it 
will mean hundreds of thousands of dollars for the farmer's 
pockets. We know positively that breeders in this country, even 
women on the farms, are making hundreds of dollars from their 
Indian Runners each year. On the date of January 26, 191 1, 1 
received a circular from one such woman, claiming that her 
ducks were made to average over ten dollars each in eight 
months. It is not likely that this was from market eggs, how- 
ever. But with a yield of 180, and a price of 35c, the gross 
income would be more than half this amount. The crying need 
at present is for some Experiment Station here to make an ex- 
haustive test of both types of Indian Runners for the benefit 
of the American farmer, on the market egg basis. 

A farmer who believes thoroughly in Penciled Runners, sent 
a pen to the Missouri Station, for entry in the National Com- 
petition, under Mr. Quisenberry. Unfortunately, most of the 
birds were smothered en route and we shall thus have to wait 
a year for this comparative history. 

Australia and New Zealand are far ahead of us in the things 
they do for the benefit of the farming population and the com- 
mon people at large. But, as these matters depend largely on 
the common people's vote, it may be said that they are the ones 
chiefly to blame for what they do not get. The average man 
does not even know what his government is trying to do for 
him. And the Government is usually far more anxious to do 
something for him than he is to have things done, if we may 
judge by what is on the surface. Professors of Poultry Hus- 
bandry, for instance, are jubilant when they succeed, by all the 
arts at their command, in getting the names of many farmers. 
This is just because they know the Station can help the farmers, 
as soon as it gets into touch with them. And the best help must 
come through work with the farmers, man by man. In the mat- 
ter of choice of type in the Indian Runner, I am in a position 
to know that our Agricultural authorities at Washington deliber- 

82 



ately threw aside a chance to do something for the farming 
people in studying the two warring types of the Indian Runner. 
They assumed that the fanciers were right in breeding to fawn, 
simply because the fawn contingent was in the majority and 
slavishly followed the Standard. As an interesting commentary 
on this, a disgusted word from one who has bred Indian Runners 
for years fits in as nothing else could. He was engaged in 
the practical job of catching birds to fill a shipment and for 
his own breeding pens. Color study was, of course, a main 
feature in O. K.-ing, or discarding specimens, and, as is always 
the case, many birds that looked well on their feet had to be 
rated as seconds on account of fawn in the flight feathers. I 
happened to be looking on, and heard his dictum: "Color in 
Indian Runners is nothing but a humbug anyway, for they 
change color every two months. How are you going to describe 
the color fairly when that is the case? It is out of the ques- 
tion! And who is going to say which is the right color, that 
of December, or of March or of June?" It struck me that this 
was as pungent a comment on the folly of ruining the distinctive- 
ness of the Indian Runner (because some one happened to think 
fawn in solid color was more desirable than any two shades of 
fawn penciled together might be) as could possibly be made. 
The question must always be, Which of the varying shades of 
fawn is Standard fawn, and when shall the bird be judged on 
color, — in winter or in summer? If in summer, or spring, it 
must be far too dark in December; if in December it is to be 
just right, it will be nothing but dirty white in June. And this 
everybody knows. 

I saw two breeders selecting a bird to fill an order that 
called for a high class specimen. The choice lay between two 
birds, one of which was nearly perfect in color, but was only 
moderately long in body and neck. The other was of beautiful 
shape and carriage, but had a flaw in the wing flight. "Which 
would you send? Which would you rather have if you were 

83 



choosing for your own yard?" said one to the other. "The slim, 
long bird, every time," was the reply. "What, — sure ! even with 
the flawed wing, and remembering that it will affect the whole 
flock?" "Yes; even at that. I stand for type first." "But 
what about shipping it to a customer? Would you decide on 
that one to fill the order?" "No — o, I'm afraid not," was the 
half willing reply. "The customer will be better satisfied with 
the bird that is better in color." 

All who have bred Runners long know this to be the case; 
and the reason is that, though Standard law, as generally applied, 
theoretically put shape above color, in actual practice, color, 
(when at all hard to get) virtually takes precedence of type, as 
the birds are judged in competition. And this is what every 
breeder of Standard birds has to meet. He dares not send 
what he believes to be the better bird, many times, because cus- 
tom has over-ridden Standard Law. The very simple reason is, 
doubtless, that color appeals far more quickly to the average 
person, than does shape. Many a breeder of years standing, 
cannot select the birds typical in shape and style. And the 
public, which sees the shows and which buys stock, is more 
easily satisfied with the better colored bird, when it becomes a 
choice between color and shape, unless the shape is inexcusably 
bad. 

I have known the American farm and the American farmer 
ever since I opened my eyes on one of these farms for the first 
time — my father's farm. On this farm, there was a pond, and 
ducks were always kept and prized. But there was nothing 
like the Indian Runner. I feel that I am in a position to know 
something of the farm attitude toward most things. More- 
over, very many of my correspondents are general farmers. 
One of them in Virginia, said, last July fn) : "I am lame on 
ducks. Have read so much dope on Indian Runners that I 
thought I would try them out. Have 75 young ones. It will 
take me a year to know where I am at; yes, more than a year. 

84 



If they do not lay from 175 to 200 eggs, I do not want to hatch 
any more next spring; and if all this dope is straight, I do want 
to hatch a lot of them. So, please put me wise — how many 
eggs will they lay? I carry S. C. White Leghorns on free range 
and ship to N. Y. by express and get the short end of the 
near-by hennery quotation. Can I do any better? All poultry 
magazines and chicken literature have nothing to say about 
markets or advice as to the commercial end, the very life of the 
poultry industry. Have had to grope my way and am still on 
the grope. You start a chicken magazine devoted to the com- 
mercial end of the egg business and you will soon be able to 
give away libraries and 'other foolish things' !" 

I think the New York market has taken a stronger liking 
than usual to the large egg, just of late. At least, more mention 
is made of it. If dealing with honest firms, there is no need 
for anybody nearby to take "the short end'' on egg quotations, 
provided he furnishes strictly fresh large white eggs. This is 
for New York, and speaking of hen eggs. It seems to me that 
even if the Runner duck will not lay from 175 to 200 eggs, she 
may be well worth while in many parts of the country. The 
one record which we have which the average farmer will care 
to tie to, is that of Hawkesbury College, 200 eggs three years in 
succession. And I think it fair to say, in reply to the above, 
''Yes; if you make your conditions the same as theirs." 

But, here I have a farm story. The man who tells it is 
at least as honest as I am, and of course readers cannot expect 
me to say anything much stronger than this ! He lives in Vir- 
ginia. He says : 

"I have 55 ducks and fifteen drakes all together at night, 
and on range in day. Have not separated those not needed as 
had no good place to put them, and many other things to look 
after. I got some 25 eggs (a day) about the 16th of Jan. My 
output then steadily decreased to zero, started again and went 
up to 19. To-day I got thirteen. Please tell me how many 



you would let roost together, or would you separate into small 
bunches? I recall absolutely no article covering ail this." 
Later, I had a letter saying there was trouble with the feed 
which made this drop in eggs. Forty-five per cent by the mid- 
dle of January is not so bad, in a farm flock on range, and gives 
a pretty fair start toward 200 for the year. 

This man had twice as many males as he should. But, on 
another farm in another state, I saw between 125 and 150 run- 
ning together, because it was difficult to separate and give all 
equally good conditions. I think it safe to say that only the 
fact of good water privilege and range saved the young of this 
flock from being spoiled, and preserved any kind of a record for 
eggs. We must admit that farm conditions must be fairly met, 
without too much fussiness. But, we may as well apprehend 
first as last that old and young in very large lots all together 
cannot thrive and give the highest records. I do not like to 
put any young birds with old until at least a year old. And 
ducks often injure each other by crowding, because they go 
into panics so easily, when frightened. 

The poultryman from one of the more important Agricul- 
tural Colleges wrote to a widely-circulated farm paper last 
spring, an article somewhat detractive of the Indian Runner, 
especially saying that ducks would eat so much as to cut apparent 
profits severely. 

Mr. Robinson has said in his book of general reference: 
"It is often said, even by those who should know better, that it 
is impossible to satisfy the appetite of a duck. Such statements 
lead people to think it much more expensive to feed ducks than 
to feed other fowls. A flock of grown ducks will not eat more 
than an equal number of average chickens, NOR DOES IT RE- 
QUIRE MORE FOOD TO GROW A DUCK THAN IT 
DOES TO GROW A CHICKEN OF THE SAME WEIGHT." 
Mr. Robinson also says : "In most places, poultrymen growing 
both chickens and ducks will usually find the latter more profit- 
able as long as their home market is not overstocked." 



This was written of ducks in general, before the Indian 
Runner Duck had attracted any attention to speak of in this 
country. If true of other ducks, much more is it true of the 
Indian Runner. I will ask readers to note again the phrase 
"of the same weight." It is because ducks get size so very 
quickly that they eat so much while growing. And the reason 
so many fail to find ducks profitable is that their own bad man- 
agement cheats them out of the profit the ducks made for them 
in ten weeks, by keeping them on to eat for weeks or months 
longer, after their period of most rapid growth is over ! Please 
note this, as it is the vital point for those who would sell duck 
meat. 

A young duck does gobble large quantities of food; but it 
grows in proportion, so fast that we may say, on occasion, that 
we "can see it grow." That is, day after to-morrow, it will 
look almost twice as large as it does to-day. A grower of Run- 
ners writes : "I never in all my experience with poultry saw 
anything grow like an Indian Runner Duckling. My ducklings 
are the curiosity of the neighborhood. At the age of five weeks, 
I haven't a duckling that weighs less than a pound and a half. I 
have investigated rather exhaustively, and I can well afford to 
take the chance on making a market, but I would not have the 
ghost of a show if I had green eggs." 

This letter was written the middle of June. A letter of later 
date said that certain ducklings of this worker were seven weeks 
old, and a lot of Barred Rock chicks three days younger. On 
weighing and comparing, he found every duck weighing above 
two pounds, some a half pound above. The largest chick in the 
lot of about equal age weighed about three-quarters of a pound. 
His comment was : "I wish I had 700 ducklings at the present 
time; they would be good money, even as market fowls." 

In order to be able to speak from personal knowledge, I 
myself weighed Runner ducklings, Columbian Wyandottes and 
Embden geese. At 26 days old the White Runners weighed one 

87 



pound each ; the Columbians of similar age weighed four ounces, 
(one- fourth as much, notice!). Runners 60 days old weighed 
three pounds each ; Columbians 41 days old, the nearest in age 
on hand, weighed less than a pound. The Embden weighed 
tipped the scales at five pounds, when just about one month old. 
I know of nothing else in the fowl line which grows so fast, espe- 
cially considering that they are rather light eaters. 

Water fowl will eat cheaper foods than will hens, so that 
the food question may, so to speak, be "dodged." There really 
isn't any food question, as between growing chicks and growing 
ducklings, when we consider the rapid gains made by the duck- 
lings. If there were, it would be in favor of the ducks. The 
three vital companion questions, to the farm, are the feed ques- 
tion, the laying and the market. The Runner will settle the 
first two if the farmer is good for the last. His salesmanship is 
the one thing to be called in question, in the case of the Indian 
Runners. 

A farmer whose experience covers five years says that he 
would not be without them. This is in south Jersey. He said, 
in 191 1, that he had shipped to the commission houses, getting 
in no case less than three cents above the price for hen eggs. 
This was in August. The usual price was six to ten cents 
above that of hen eggs. In spring often 20c more. He stated, 
in the Rural New Yorker: "I have tried different-sized flocks, 
and I find that it pays best to have 75 to 100 layers, for you will 
be able even in the slack months to ship the eggs fresh. If the 
flock is small, some would be rather stale before you had enough. 
I ship in 30-dozen crates. I don't believe a duck egg will stand 
the abuse a hen egg often gets. This will make freshness a 
necessity, as it should be with all eggs. While the hen man is 
clearing his droppings-boards, fighting lice and mites, but espe- 
cially roup and gapes, the duck man has only to fork out the 
soiled bedding on the floor and throw in a forkful of straw." 

88 



\Y. W. Henry, Virginia, says: "I can give my testimony 
as to its being entirely practical to handle a few ducks with hens, 
where all are on good range, and to feed all alike on a grain 
ration and get good results. I have seen Indian Runner ducks 
up at night to feed with hens, and gone in the morning before 
they were fed, yet lay splendidly from the middle of January to 
August ; but, mind you ! there was fine range and only about 
six ducks. My birds commenced to lay on oats alone in October 
of this year (1911). I have always had them with hens and 
now have some 46 ducks and about 200 hens and pullets. I get 
about 35 eggs a day, and half of their feed is grain (oats and 
corn). The authorities say the duck is not adapted to grain 
feeding, but I never feed anything else in the November laying- 
season. After I have fed mash to young birds till they have 
good size, I then feed grain alone. I have done this because it 
was convenient and not because I thought it best, yet my birds 
do well in open weather. 

"This ought to be a good thing for average farmers to know. 
I have only some seventy ducks, young and old (not counting 
drakes). I could not raise what I wished on account of the 
great demand for eggs." Mr. Henry is a general farmer, with- 
out help, and handles his ducks so that they may be as little 
trouble as possible, consistent with thrift and profit. He handles 
the penciled birds, and refused more egg orders than he filled 
in 191 1, if I remember correctly the words of a previous letter. 

In one of my 191 1 letters concerning a new breeder of the 
Penciled Runners, another friend wrote : "The V's wrote me 
they have sold some ducks to go to Oregon at five dollars each. 
Sold eggs at five dollars per sitting from a small mating, and 
$30.00 per hundred. One man took $97.00 worth ; another 
S60.00 worth." 

Of this same young farmer, the beloved T. B. Terry wrote 
publicly: "I know him to be straight and true, a pusher, too. 
Speaking of the young man's selling $1000 worth of eggs during 

89 



a year, shipping under lock and key, Mr. Terry added, "And 
our friend cannot begin to supply the demand," referred to the 
incredible price received, and went on to tell of his putting in 
Indian Runners (the penciled kind, as I chance to know). The 
first season, he hatched 89 ducklings from 120 eggs, by machine, 
and raised all but three. "All this was the result of extreme 
care, of course," adds Mr. Terry. The name of the young man 
is C. K. Vanderbilt. I visited his place in 191 1, saw his fine 
large flock of Penciled Runners, his commission receipts, etc. 
I do not think he has had any exceptional opportunity, except 
what clever business forecasting and systematic work may give. 
Mr. Vanderbilt sent two dozen of his eggs from the Penciled 
Runners to the publishers of "Poultry Success." After testing 
these, they reported: "In eating the Indian Runner Duck eggs 
one cannot find any difference in flavor from hens' eggs. The 
duck eggs do not have that strong flavor and taste, like the 
Pekin eggs do. The yolk is fine-grained and smoother; the 
albumen is firmer in texture than hens' eggs, and it really takes 
an expert to tell the difference when eating them." 

Mr. Vanderbilt's success has been so instant, and he is such 
a thorough-going farmer and so straightforward a man that I 
have asked him to write out at some length his experience with 
the Penciled Runners on the "Peerless Poultry Farm." He does 
so as follows: 

"In all my experience with poultry (some 18 years), I have 
enjoyed the work most during the past two years, as I have been 
raising the Indian Runner ducks. They have turned out to be 
the Farmers' Best Egg Machine. They can stand more real 
hardship than any other fowls, requiring only a good dry place 
to stay in at night, and in winter weather. Our Runners are 
the English-bred, dark fawn and white type, or as some term 
them, the Penciled Runners ; but they lay the large pearly white 
eggs, and that is what suits the average farmer of today. I 
have given my neighbor farmers the eggs to test for eating, and 

90 



they all went wild over them. What was the result? Why 
they have them on their farms today producing such eggs as I 
showed them. One farmer's wife drove nine miles to our place, 
and in coming here, went past a farmer who had the "sports" 
that layed the green eggs. But after seeing the fine large white 
eggs from our Penciled Runners, she took home ioo eggs to put 
in an incubator. 

"I find that the eggs hatch well in incubators, but if you 
want to get real big hatches, use Plymouth Rock hens. We 
keep quite a number for that purpose. When our ducks began 
to lay a year ago in January, we sent what accumulated, with 
our hens' eggs, to the New York City market, and received sev- 
eral cents more per dozen than for the hens' eggs. But when 
the breeding season commenced, we did some advertising, and 
could not keep up with the orders that came in for the eggs. 
Later in the season, we sold all the baby ducklings we could 
hatch till September. We sent them west as far as Illinois, and 
south as far as Virginia. 

"My experience in raising them is that they do not require 
the feed and labor that hens need. The best method of brood- 
ing them is with hens; I put 10 to 15 ducklings with each hen 
in a common slatted box like a southern berry crate without a 
bottom, and put a piece of prepared roofing over the top, back 
and ends to keep out wind and rain. I move this every other 
day, putting up a board in front of them at night to keep out 
skunks, weasels or other animals that might molest them. In 
this way, I can raise 90 per cent of all I hatch. Brooders are 
all right, but for the average farmer, the hens are best. I have 
raised them both ways and know. The simplest and best feed 
for the ducklings is bread soaked in milk, squeezed quite dry 
and crumbled on a clean board by the coops, for the first week; 
then I feed four parts by measure of bran, one part of corn 
meal, one part of middlings, with a little sand mixed in. Feed 
this mixture moistened for about a week, then add 5 per cent of 

9i 



beef scraps, and continue this for six or eight weeks, giving them 
a grass pasture. 

For water fountains, I use the inverted gallon cans on 
saucers; they are simple and easy to keep clean. It is not 
necessary to have running water. A sunken basin made of 
cement in the ground makes an excellent place for them to take 
a bath, for they do enjoy it. 

"Much has been said about care and feeding of the Indian 
Runner ducks, but let me say right here that it is the product 
from the Runners that gives them value to the open-eyed farmer. 
Their eggs are larger than and just as white as the Leghorn 
eggs, and a basketful of Runner eggs taken into a city or coun- 
try town will more than take the eyes of people who are lovers 
of eggs. My own experience proved this true, for my wife 
took several dozen to have a photo made from them, and they 
were all sold before she was out of the photo gallery, at an 
advanced price over the highest market price of hens' eggs, and 
orders followed her home for more of the eggs. 

"Every good sound-minded farmer knows that anything 
fancy is out of the farmers' line ; what they want is practical 
results. They want something in return for their money. My 
advice, as a farmer, to all farmer friends when buying eggs or 
stock is to get the real true Indian Runners, and not mere "fancy 
stock," unless you want to attend the shows and take in 50-cent 
premiums. Compare this with a basketful of nice large white 
eggs that will put smiles on all that see them and want them. 

"Now to give real facts concerning the Runners, Although 
breeders advertise them as "Great Money Makers," don't for a 
minute think that the Runners are going to do it all themselves. 
You may think just buying some, taking them home, letting them 
out and giving them the run that they are going to have, will 
make you rich. Not a bit of it ! Any more than a good Jersey 
cow will on poor pasture ! You must feed that cow first before 
you expect to get much returns ; so with the Runner duck. 

92 



Give her half a chance! She is built to produce something. 
She will hold her end as a forager and make her own living 
any way ; but just give her real feed, and she will keep you carry- 
ing baskets of eggs every morning almost the year 'round if you 
have a large flock. Our correspondence shows that all are satis- 
fied who have tried the white-egg strain of Runners, English 
type. 

"We grow Alfalfa by the ton, and have equipped the feed- 
ing room in our poultry house with a gasoline engine and Alfalfa 
cutter that cuts the hay into ^6 -inch lengths. We mix this in 
all our mash for the poultry and we know that it saves 40 per 
cent of our feed bills zvith the Runners. Too much cannot be 
said concerning Alfalfa for ducks and poultry. The Cornell 
University people sent me their feeding ration for breeding 
stock, and I tried it, thoroughly, for months. It is a good one : 
70 pounds corn meal, 15 pounds bran, 10 pounds middlings, 15 
pounds whole oats, 25 pounds wheat and 15 pounds meat scrap. 
Give them a moist mash of this in the morning, and let them 
run on grass range or the Alfalfa field. Give them a little corn 
and wheat at night. I never failed to get lots of eggs, and 
hatchable eggs, too. 

"I know that the American people are going to demand the 
English type of white-egg Runners when they wake up from 
their slumbers over the short-bodied, dumpy, green-egg sort 
that are only a fad for a few short years." 

One of the points New York market is strenuous on lately 
is that eggs that meet the requirements of first-class stock must 
''stand up well," must be "full-bodied," and firm as to the con- 
tents, especially the albumen, or "white." Candlers find out 
"all about" the inside of an egg, you see. Note, please, that the 
new laid Indian Runner egg has just this wanted quality, above 
the average best hens' eggs. 

On a New Hampshire farm, one clever grower with initia- 
tive to find new ways of making the Runners profitable to him, 

93 



wrote me of this "dodge.": "I find ducks valuable for two 
reasons not mentioned in the papers. I use the Cornell [Agricul- 
tural College] A brooder, 8x8 feet, without the heat, and I put 
in a few young ducks with my chicks. The houses are as free 
from lice as a parlor, with no more attention from me, and the 
chicks are the best I ever raised, none naked or droopy. Before 
having ducks, I lost many by hawks. Now, I keep all in a 
covered run until the first ducks get their voices, then I let them 
all go, and hawks are seen no more." 

Manifestly, this is intended to show that the noise of the 
ducks keeps the hawks off. Some may put this with the stories 
of the Indian Runners being so very quiet, and wonder whether 
"two and two make four," as of old! They do, even as of old. 
The ducks are very quiet, unless there is reason to make a noise, 
in which case, they can "raise the roof." For this, I am often 
devoutly thankful, as is many another living in or near town 
and factory conditions. If the ducks go to bed hungry look out 
for your slumber! You won't be allowed to take it. And if 
there is danger, shown by noise and commotion generally, take 
your cue and find out why— and, do it quickly! 



94 



Feeding Methods Safe for All 



CHAPTER X 

There is a knack about the handling of ducks which has to 
be learned. It is fortunate that it can be learned quite readily 
from the literature. Much of it lies in knowing just where ducks 
differ from hens, in their requirements. The love of ducks for 
the water is well known, and the very fact that they fall in the 
"Water Fowl" class affirms it. 

Still, it is very difficult to some to realize that ducks always 
need drinking water before they need feed ; and, on the other 
hand, it is difficult to realize that ducks can be raised virtually 
as land birds, with no water but that which a tub may hold ; and 
that, if they have good grass range, they will not seem to suffer 
material immediate deterioration. It is, of course, much harder 
work to raise yarded ducks without running water, since they 
love to play in water, will waste much that is provided for them, 
and cannot be neglected in this matter. If they are without 
drinking water a single half hour, they become uneasy, noisy, and 
obtrusive of their sufferings. In small quarters, ducks are said 
to be, in general, the most easily managed of all domestic fowls ; 
(some say, the most profitable, also.) I saw an instance of 
this, as far as it relates to housing, which was a revelation a* 

95 



to the easy adaptability of clucks to the conditions which they 
must needs meet. The duck shelter to which I refer was just 
a one-room, dirt-floor, double-pitch arrangement, the upper half 
of the usual siding being replaced by wire netting. The floor 
measurement may have been ten by twelve feet. Through the 
center, lengthwise, nearly the whole length, ran an alley. At 
one end and on the sides of this alley, were, I think, seven pens 
for ducks. The cat was not there to be "swung," but I am sure 
there was not room in any one of these, divisions. Yet, the 
ducks seemed to be doing well enough. The matter that saved 
the situation was that the shelter stood at the head of a steep 
slope, and there was running water at the bottom to which the 
mature birds had continual access. Such con Fined quarters 
("sevenths," rather) are not to be advised; but the story shows 
how especial care in one direction may offset, when necessary, 
some neglect or lack in another. 

Duck houses are of the simplest construction, and about the 
only need is a roof with three or four walls, and some rather 
deep, clean litter. Many times, they prefer to sit out, entirely 
exposed to the weather. But this is a matter which affects their 
breeding value much, in some seasons. A valuable breeding bird 
requires comfort, and if she have not a comfortable shelter and 
warm litter, many of her eggs will be wasted through chilling, 
during the early part of the year. One should not forget that, 
although ducks are water fowl, they need dry shelters and 
drained soil, at least near their sleeping place. I have seen 
ordinary puddle ducks, probably once kin to the Rouen aris- 
tocracy, sit all night in the dead of winter on a pond, just where 
it was fed from a living spring. But these ducks were not 
expected to lay until March. 

The foregoing remarks indicate the general handling which 
goes to the making of a vigorous breeder, or a vigorous layer. 
The market duck is handled differently while growing, especially 
in the matter of feed. The very sweeping statement has been 

96 • 



made that there is only one duck for profit, as that one is so 
far superior to all the others. But this statement was penned 
eleven years ago, when the very name of Indian Runner was 
practically unknown in this country. More recently, an ex- 
tensive grower of the big, market ducks has told me that, in 
his opinion, there would never be any market for the Indian 
Runner. Fortunately growers of Indian Runners are disproving 
this to some extent, although at the present writing, these ducks 
are unknown to the majority, probably, of city commission men. 
Indeed, in New York City itself, I have found few firms familiar 
with the Indian Runner by name. The author of "Poultry 
Craft" says that exclusive duck farming can be made profitable 
only near a large city, where there is a good demand for ducks; 
a few ducks, he admits, can be grown profitably almost any- 
where. The same author says that, on large plants, the estimated 
cost of growing is up to eight cents a pound, and that special 
duck farmers would soon have to go out of business through 
the very fouling of the soil, and its consequent unhealthfulness, 
did they not use the latter part of the summer season in making 
it sanitary through the use of growing crops. 

Fortunately, the Indian Runner can make good so fully in a 
single, special line, that of tgg production the year around, that 
we scarcely need to listen to the market men, no matter what 
they have to say about real, market ducks. The Runner breed- 
ers will have only to dispose of their worn-out layers. And, 
the Runners lay w r ell until several years old, according to testi- 
mony. 

The feed, then, will not usually be that of the market duck, 
but that of the breeder and layer. One part green food to two 
parts grain mixture largely in mash is the general rule to pro- 
duce a well-framed duck. All will be fed on this basis till, pos- 
sibly eight weeks old. After this, the market duck needs more 
corn in some form. The stock to be grown on is kept on about 
the same ration right along till it is time for laying to begin. 

97 



It is understood that meat is always fed after the ducklings are 
a few days or a week old, the amount being increased as the 
birds get larger. Ten per cent is about the average given to the 
ducks well started, which is sometimes increased to twelve per 
cent just before fattening time, if they are to go to market. 

As to substituting milk for meat, a very successful feeder 
tells me that he regards bone as more essential than meat. Milk 
is safer than meat, because meat is so uneven in quality and often 
poor, but he would use bone in connection with milk. I regard 
this as an extremely valuable suggestion. 

If a single article of food were to be mentioned as of more 
value to duck breeders than any other, doubtless it would be 
bran. Bran, however, differs, in these times, from the older 
mill product, and modern brans are not all alike. I wish to im- 
press especially the need of securing a good grade of feeding 
stuffs for ducks. Tainted meat, or moldy ground stuff will work 
quick havoc with ducklings, at almost any age. Some time ago, 
a correspondent wrote to inquire what could be done for the 
ducklings, which had suddenly begun to die by the score and 
almost by the hundred. Every possible point of failure was 
canvassed, but handling seemed to be correct upon all, till we 
came to the question of spoiled food. Then it came out that 
a mill which had been relied upon, was putting out a product 
made from grains that had virtually become rotted in the fields. 

Ducks have a desirable quality in the fact that they will not 
eat when really sick, and thus they have some chance to recover. 
The universal testimony is that a duck well-hatched is as good 
as raised, after one gets the knack, and the chief difficulty in 
raising ducks inheres in their greedy desire to gorge themselves, 
combined with neglect, by their owner, to make sure that they 
always have water to help them at this weak point. Dry feed 
and withheld water are the duck's worst combination foe. Con- 
siderable can be done to ward off trouble by soaking the cracked 
corn which is used, for an hour or so before feeding it. (The 

98 



only point to watch out against is letting it ferment in extreme 
warm weather.) Being then swollen before it is eaten, it will 
not make trouble by swelling after being eaten. The duck has 
no crop proper, like the hen. The feed is passed into the 
stomach, and thence through the other organs of digestion. The 
duckling eats eagerly and often. This is, no doubt, the chief 
reason why it does not do to use too much hard, dry grain, or 
to omit water at any time. We have found much satisfaction 
in feeding stale bread soaked in milk, in connection with bran, 
for the first few weeks. Cracked corn is used for one meal a 
day, and clover, cut sweet-corn stalks, grass, rape, weeds, cab- 
bage, beet pulp and other things that may be handy, help out 
the growers who may not have grass range. 

The matter of shade is one which must never be overlooked. 
I have seen, on farms where there was abundance of delightful 
shade, both duck and chicken coops located out in the open, 
under a broiling July or August sun. At the same time, the 
shallow water dishes were entirely dry, it might be for hours. 
Such ducks and chickens are pre-destined to die of mysterious 
( ?) causes, and none can ward this off till shade and water 
become a part of the constant conditions under which they grow. 
Ducks are very sensitive to the heat of summer suns, and I 
have seen even the less sensitive chickens thrown into convul- 
sions or limberneck during the awful heat of midsummer con- 
ditions without shade. The best of things can, however, be 
overdone. The one safe way is to make both shade and sun- 
shine free to the younglings, and let them choose for themselves 
which they will take at any one time. It is not necessary, as one 
breeder did, when told to provide shade, to coop the ducks so 
that they could not get from under the dense shade of an over- 
head grape arbor. Even summer days vary much, and summer 
nights become as cold as autumn, at times. I have worn mit- 
tens on the fourth of July, and even then suffered with the cold, 
in New York state. An exception, of course, but one never 

99 



knows when an exception may arise. Forethought is one's best 
defence, and must be a continual part of the pouitryman's 
panoply. 

It is altogether better to feed and water outside the shelters, 
except under very unusual conditions. All who keep ducks 
under conditions which require yarding, make much use of 
small grit, and many use charcoal also, at least, occasionally. 
Charcoal is especially good in the case of trouble with indiges- 
tion. But, inasmuch as the old saw about locking the barn 
after the horse is stolen applies with great force to ducks, the 
wise duck grower studies his conditions carefully, and so plans 
as to render impossible, those things which are likely to make 
trouble in the duck yard. 

One careful grower known to me who would by no means 
be caught napping about anything in the regular preventive line, 
has lost a large bunch of ducks through hunters ; another, 
through the ducklings having eaten rose beetles. 

The sexes are usually about equally represented in the young 
stock. Occasionally, a freakish hatch may be very unequal. 
One buyer, in 1910, reported one duck and nine drakes raised 
from one setting of eggs ; while another, more under fortune's 
care, apparently, reports, on the very morning when I am writing 
this chapter, three drakes to nine ducks. 

One breeder suggests that real beginners could more easily 
enter upon poultry culture with Indian Runners than with any 
variety of hens, because they "would meet with but few of the 
vexing problems and setbacks that would fall to their lot if 
they tackled chickens." The first requisite in handling, he says, 
is to get pure-bred Runners, "free from crossing with Pekin and 
other ducks." / 

To speak definitely of our own experience, I may say that 
we have hatched and raised our Runners entirely with hens. 
Early in the season, I give not more than nine eggs to a hen. 
This is equal to 13 hens' eggs. A nest with a sod or earth 

too 



a 
% 

w' 

cr 

a 

CD 




bottom is best. The eggs are supposed to hatch in 28 days, but 
I have had a brood all out and in the coop before the end of 
the 28th day. The ducklings require little feed the first day or 
two. I do not try to feed them till they begin to look for it, 
for they do not need it earlier. They should have water in a 
shallow dish so that they cannot get wet in it, and this means re- 
filling it often. The first feed is stale bread soaked in sweet 
milk. If I couldn't get this, I think, from my present knowl- 
edge, I might feed Spratt's Duck feed, just at first. After a 
very few days, I add to the soaked bread a little bran and mid- 
dlings, a little ground corn and oats with the hulls sifted out, 
and some clean sand or fine grit. Just as soon as they will 
eat it, I work in succulent feed in the way of chopped cabbage, 
lettuce, rape or similar greens. If the green juicy stuff is not 
available, scalded cut clover is excellent. But something of this 
character is imperative for ducks, unless they have abundant 
good pasturage. I feed five times daily for the first few weeks, 
and mix in a little sand once daily. At least one feed is of green 
stuff. After a few days, I add a little good beef scrap; the 
less milk the more scrap. Don't use scrap that smells like 
fertilizer. And be sure all feed is sound and sweet. If the 
milk sours, I would make it into curds and mix with the other 
ingredients, and use a little more bran in proportion. 

The ducklings are very sensitive to cold and wet for the 
first few days of their lives. They must have protection from 
storms till they are feathered. I have found them so nearly 
drowned by a sudden, hard shower that reviving them seemed 
hopeless. But drying and warming them by the kitchen range 
put renewed life into the chilled bodies, and they seemed none 
the worse for the wetting. Their recuperative powers seem to 
be great. They will reach the point where they do not need 
the hen sooner than will chicks. But they should always have 
some shelter to which they can retreat. An open shed seems to 
suit them admirably. 

101 



A shed-like house, situated on sloping land, usually open 
to the sun, but planned to close at night when necessary and 
having good litter, about covers the real needs, as to shelter, for 
the breeding ducks, or the layers. At the south I would board 
only on the side of the prevailing wind. 

Concerning the most deeply interesting point, as to how 
freely the Indian Runners will lay in the "off" season for hens 5 
eggs, testimony varies so much as to convince me that it is 
quite a matter of handling. 

The H — ducks lay during the moulting season, and on into 
the extreme cold months. The report is, 75 per cent of them lay- 
ing by February 1. And that the (large) flock averaged 99 eggs 
per duck in 108 days; also, that the eggs laid during the five 
poorer months of the year will "more than pay all expenses of 
feed, shipping baskets, printing and advertising for the entire 
year." 

Mrs. Brooks's birds lay during the moult (to a lesser extent 
than in spring, of course) and she ships eggs for hatching in 
November, the sparsest month of the year for hens' eggs. One 
breeder, writing in November, says : "Every mail brings re- 
ports of ducks from my eggs laying." 

Judge Clipp says that he sees duck eggs in the exhibition 
coops of the Runners at midwinter (even after trying ship- 
ments). The early hatched may begin to lay in July, and "any- 
body's" will lay in February. Mr. Hurt says that the very 
slender neck, long, thin body and alert carriage characterize the 
best layers. "The White Queen," the best bird I have seen in 
America, as regards genuine type, may well serve as a model for 
those who would fix the correct type firmly in mind. Compare 
her with Walton's ideal sketches, published in this country in 
May, 1910, and see how little she lacks of meeting them. Is 
she not, in fact, far more beautiful? 

Having a good, laying type, one needs to provide comfor- 
table housing at night, a spot sheltered from winds during the 

102 



days, and liberal rations, with a goodly proportion of meat. 
This sums up the matter of the egg harvest. 

I must not, however, leave any one with the impression that 
only one method of feeding will do for Indian Runner Ducks, 
or other ducks. The methods most commonly recommended 
in handling ducks have been gleaned chiefly from the handling 
of the men who raise them commercially, for the sake of the 
carcass. They are the methods of those who yard their ducks, 
and push them almost beyond reason when they are to go to 
market early. 

On the farm, especially where there is abundant room and 
natural water privileges, one may do differently. I am accus- 
tomed to a rough mental grouping of feeds which is easily pos- 
sible to any feeder. It includes the starchy feeds, which are 
heat and fat makers, (including fats themselves with the fat 
makers, at a higher value) ; the muscle and egg makers form 
my second group ; the green feeds, clover meals, vegetables, form 
the third. If birds are on free, good range, we need not think 
much about this third class. If not, we must make much of 
it, and use its members in large proportion. We must remem- 
ber that grass is not the same as hay, because it is so largely 
water. Proportions may be roughly in one's mind, something 
like one part of muscle-makers to two of fat and six or seven 
of the starchy things (which means, mostly, the grains in their 
natural state, unground and undivided as to food values). To 
produce eggs, one adds a larger proportion of the muscle-makers, 
like peas, beans, meat, etc. This is all that is necessary for a 
feeder to know, except whether any special feed ranks high as 
a muscle-maker or a fat maker. This is really the base of that 
far more elaborate thing called "scientific feeding." 

From S. H. Scott, Onehunga, New Zealand: "My Won- 
der kept on laying till she had laid 200 eggs in 205 days, after 
which she went into a partial moult. But that did not stop her 
from shelling out her large eggs each morning. I want readers 

103 



of this article to understand fully that I did not force her for 
egg production. All she got was quite plain, viz., brewers' 
grains, pollard or sharps, bran and chopped green stuff, all mixed 
up into a mash not too wet. I also gave the same mash twice 
a day, a real good feed each time, and occasionally a handful 
of wheat or maize. The mash was made as follows, the same 
as I feed all my ducks: one-half brewers' grains, the other 
half composed of Pollard and bran (more pollard than bran). 
The greens are added. I consider a good strain of Runner 
ducks, allowed to mature, given free range, fed with good, whole- 
some food such as bran and pollard mixed with greens (one 
meal a day can be either maize or wheat) ducks treated so must 
lay well and pay well, and will beat hens hollow, both in the 
number of eggs laid, also in profit to their owner." 

A feeding-point which I want all to notice is that there is 
virtually little difference in the feeding practices of different 
handlers. Barring some variations in proportion, nearly all are 
using the cheap, common feeds : bran, Alfalfa, green or dry, all 
green stuffs available, and a little corn or wheat for a one-feed 
per day grain. One has used some buckwheat ; one uses some 
oats, even for the babies, but sifts out the hulls. Sprouted oats 
are as good for yarded ducks as for hens and chicks. 

It will be a great good for all if our southern friends will 
try some of the special feeds of their localities, carefully, and 
report results. One southern breeder will try peanuts. Mr. 
Stoddard, Riviera, Texas, is advocating wire-net housing for 
fowls in that locality. All these hints must set us thinking and 
experimenting. 

A very practical difficulty which meets the handlers of laying- 
ducks is that, in mid-winter, the ducks, being largely night layers, 
must be in reasonably warm quarters, or the eggs will freeze. 
Breeders of ducks especially noted for laying should, therefore, 
plan for warmer housing than others find necessary. This' does 
not mean that they must provide close, stuffy houses, for these 

104 



will not work for the good health and vigor of the stock. The 
best thing any one can do to make his shelters warm for stock 
of any kind is to locate them where they are sheltered from wind. 
The closer they are to shelter on the windward side, the warmer 
they will be. A second good aid toward the needed warmth for 
laying ducks, is deep, soft litter. If this occupies only such por- 
tion of the floor as will accommodate the inmates comfortably, 
they will group themselves there ; as they are very partial to a 
nice bed. Thus, their bodies will keep the eggs warm, and early 
rising on the part of the handler will do the rest. 

The one who handles our ducks recently planned some very 
simple houses, which have been put up experimentally. They 
are really only deep sheds, being six feet wide and 12 feet deep. 
The height at the front is six and one-half feet, and at the 
back it drops to 40 inches. The houses are boarded closely, 
and covered both on roof and sides with one of the commercial 
roofings. The front is entirely filled by two curtains which 
drop against the strip binding the house in front, and which open 
flat against the roof whenever desirable. The more they are up. 
the better for the birds. 

This house has been planned to meet several difficulties 
which experience showed. The door is on the side, rather close 
to the front. It is double, having an outer solid shutter and an 
inner frame covered with wire netting. The depth of the house 
is to permit the easy handling of litter which I mentioned ; to 
allow, also, feeding near the front on stormy days, and to pro- 
tect from inblowing wet and snow. The curtains are of cheap 
muslin. A man who had used duck, which used to be so much 
recommended, told me that he thought the muslin much better. 
The duck does not permit sufficient influx of air, he said. Were 
it not for the color and weight, which darken the inner house 
somewhat, I should use loose bagging, nearly always available 
on the farm at no cost. We do use it wherever possible. 

Ever since I have taken special interest in poultry, Editor 

105 



Hunter has been trying to drum it into the heads of all whom 
it may concern that the three points necessary to winter hens' 
eggs are early hatching, good "growing" and pullets for a stand- 
by. In similar way, I might make three points for ducks ; early 
hatching, proper feeding, comfortable housing. Without all 
these the duck will not often give returns in winter, at least at 
the north. The very word, "returns" points to the fact that she 
must receive first. Let no breeder forget this. 

Even when she has given her returns in eggs, it yet remains 
for her owner so to educate or to select his market that the cash 
returns shall be of the best. This matter is one in which our 
southern people should be especially interested, as they have the 
best chance, on account of their climate. In March, 1910, a pro- 
duce reporting paper gave 22]/ 2 to 23 cents as the lowest price 
for hens' eggs, reached up to the date of report, during that 
season. On the same date it was reported that duck eggs were 
beginning to move toward the New York market. They were 
classed as "Baltimore" eggs, though some came from Tennessee 
"and other western points." Baltimore duck eggs were reported 
as bringing 42c. at the same time that hens' eggs were bringing 
a cent or two more than one-half this price. When we have 
actual market reports showing what is possible in the line of 
returns from duck eggs, at least during a portion of the season, 
we do not need to guess. And I note that southern inquirers 
are plentiful, and eager. Europe sent us a good many cases of 
eggs last year. Shall we not rather raise our own? I note 
in certain market news that prices drop to "almost one-half" 
on duck eggs, after Easter. But, if this one-half is even then 
equal to the price of hens' eggs, none need complain very bitterly. 
The market for duck eggs has to work itself out, but it seems 
to be doing very well. And I think it may be expected to im- 
prove steadily, once the Indian Runner eggs get a hold in city 
markets. Ignorant old New York will get them after a lit- 
tle, and LKARN SOMETHING TO HER ADVANTAGE! 

I06 



A mid-west breeder of Runners gives, as an ideal ration for 
any old ducks: mash made of wheat bran, corn meal, alfalfa 
meal and beef scraps. He says that with dry housing and 
water at night in all cases, the egg output is sure, regardless of 
climatic or weather conditions. He likes corn, fed sparingly 
and intelligently, and says that ducks "do not prefer an abrupt 
change, preferring a constant 'one-thing' rather." He finds that 
ducks trained to receive a grain-ration with the bulky food 
appear to enjoy it, but places all corn in the water troughs to 
soak a little. "Otherwise, they may get a rather packed crop 
of dry, hard grain." This writer says that ducklings will "in- 
variably" grow better and develop much faster when they have 
a good supply of water, both at night and during meals. He 
makes mash at least two-thirds the ration, in bulk, in cold 
weather and for laying, and says that if ducks are well raised 
and kept warm and comfortable during the winter at all times, 
they "will lay without faltering." I think this is rather near 
the secret of getting winter eggs from ducks : a rich and ample 
ration, with reasonable uniformity of conditions both as to feed 
and housing. The same man tells of finding a breeder who was 
complaining of no eggs, plucking his ducks every six weeks ! 
This is sufficient to explain any lack of eggs under even the best 
conditions, otherwise. 

In yard conditions, without natural water supply, the filthy 
and ill-smelling conditions become an acute menace, and the 

ducks are not a matter of pride to the raiser. On heavy land, 
I would not raise ducks thus, without a sharp slope for drain- 
age of surplus water. But, on light land, one may dodge this 
issue by excavating a fair-sized hole, laying over it a stiffened 
wire netting, and setting the water dishes on this netting. In 
case of bad odors, a covering of fresh earth, or a sprinkling of 
some safe disinfectant is indicated. 

One breeder, who has raised several kinds of ducks, in- 
cluding the Imperial Pekins, says that the Indian Runner is, by 

107 



far, the most profitable, and that it is much easier to induce the 
Runners to lay in extreme weather than to get eggs from hens. 
The methods on this place include a house 16 ft. by 25 ft. and 
a yard 24 ft. wide and 100 ft. long to each forty ducks. The. 
layers are fed four times a day; a grain and vegetable mash 
early and at night, with two lighter meals in between. The 
breeder says : "Twice a week a little raw cut bone or some 
beef scraps are added to the mash. Cooked vegetables with 
some milk added and then thickened with equal parts cornmeal 
and bran forms a mixture that ducks thrive upon. Either bran 
or something green should form a part of every meal in win- 
ter. Both are important factors in duck feeding.'' This is 
quoted from an article in the "American Poultry Advocate." 
The same breeder mentions cutting rye when it is frozen and 
storing it for the ducks ; also the use of cut clover or alfalfa 
scalded, and thinks it much better to provide grit separately, not 
mixing it with the feed. 

On the other hand, Mrs. Mellette tells an inquirer not get- 
ting enough eggs, who feeds "mill feed, ground barley and wheat, 
with grit and charcoal in a hopper and all the grass they want," 
that this is not a suitable ration for ducks, and that their grit 
should be mixed with the mash; as should also the green feed. 
This last is probably the custom of the great majority of breed- 
ers of yarded ducks. 

Mrs. Mellette also says that purchasers are not asking the 
color of the drakes' heads, but "Do your ducks lay a white egg?" 
She says that the ducks do not seek shelter in heavy California 
rains. Last winter she had a flock of ducks laying in Decem- 
ber that were hatched in July, — the last day of the month. The 
ducks lay there "steadily during the winter season, when eggs 
are 60c a dozen," she says, also, that the table birds bring from 
85c to a dollar, according to the demand. Answering in detail 
just what should be fed to grown ducks, she replies: "First, a 
duck needs green feed, then meat in some form, next shell and 

108 




A Simple, Sufficient Duck House 





American Standard Male 



American Standard Male 



Both Winners in Strong Competition 

(Courtesy of M. E Newell) 



bone, and after that, a good, rich mash." As ingredients of 
the mash, she uses rice meal, ground oats, "balanced ration" 
meal, rolled barley soaked till swelled, and some wheat. This 
mash is fed three times a day when pushing for eggs. During 
the rest season she feeds little to ducks on good range. 

Although hundreds and doubtless thousands of Runners are 
raised, both here and abroad, without water for swimming, it is 
not natural, and we should, I think, consider the natural state 
of a bird as much as artificial needs will allow. It looks rea- 
sonable to me that the exercise of swimming must strengthen 
the abdominal parts and legs, and make for better fertility in 
the eggs, or at least, better hatchability. Also, that the water 
Tbath would help to keep down inflammation, in case of straining 
from laying extra large eggs, or other reason. 

It is also true that the duck, in nature, probably moistens 
her eggs each time she returns to the nest, because her feathers 
are moist. This points to nests on the ground, or ground at 
least sprinkled occasionally, to give moist atmosphere. Play in 
the water gives vigor, delight, and activity, and the ducks often 
mate while on the water. 

You will notice that ducks cannot keep their plumage in 
good condition unless they can have a water bath, at least in 
muddy weather. Yet, the water which is their greatest neces- 
sity is also one of their gravest dangers. It is not at all safe 
to allow the young the freedom of ponds, swales or any other 
place which enemies haunt until fully grown. Turtles and other 
vermin make inroads into the flock and dogs run ducks down 
much more quickly and surely than they do hens, unless the 
ducks take to flight. Hunters are even more dangerous and 
lawless. 

A beginner cannot distinguish the sex till the sex feathers 
come with the second coat — shown by the curl on the drake's 
tail. With more experience, the size and breadth of bill and 
general appearance will help some, and the heavy quack of the 

T09 



duck will distinguish her, some weeks before the sex feathers 
appear. 

Mr. Root says in his journal: "Both of my ducks have 
blue bills, while the two drakes have yellow bills; this is prob- 
ably accidental." He thinks the first edition of this book gave 
too much space to native country, coloring "and ducks that lay 
only white eggs instead of eggs that are slightly tinted green 
or blue." But a little more of this class of information would 
have told him that the Standard demands dull, cucumber-green 
in bills of ducks and greenish-yellow in drakes, when matured. 

One of the large growers of market ducks, who raises from 
20,000 upward each season, says of ducks in general that he 
considers that the average man has as good a chance to succeed 
with ducks as with any branch of poultry raising, and that some 
men have the best chance with ducks. 

Because he is a man of such wide experience, I will give 
his method of using machines for hatching, as told in "The 
Poultry Advocate" in 1910, though not quoting much literally. 
He believes that ducks hatched during the first two weeks in 
May make the best breeders. He places his young birds in- 
tended for breeders on sod, with access to a stream, at eight 
weeks of age. Bran, corn-meal and middlings, equal parts, with 
eight per cent of beef scraps, form their entire ration, fed twice 
daily till mid-November. As his main food for getting eggs, he 
gives : 

"One part bran; one part middlings; one part low grade 
flour; one part whole corn; two parts whole wheat; two parts 
cornmeal; four parts cut clover hay; twelve per cent beef scrap, 
sand, grit and oyster shells, all they will eat; mix with water 
till crumbly." 

Eggs for hatching are washed very lightly and carefully, if 
they are much soiled. "We set daily, and find we get better re- 
sults than when we used to set every four days," he says. The 
(Cyphers) machines are run at 102 the first two weeks, at 102^2 

no 



for a week more, then a week at 103, running up to 104 and 
105 at the hatching period. Eggs are turned once a day till 
the first test, at end of first week; after this twice daily till they 
pip. Then all pipped eggs are turned the pipped side up, and the 
machine closed till hatch is complete. "A 350-egg machine will 
accommodate 288 duck eggs, and if you average 150 good duck- 
lings throughout the season, you are doing well." 

When dry, the ducklings are removed to brooders with over- 
head water heat, the temperature held at ninety. Water and 
coarse sand are given at once. Next morning the first feed, 
"Spratt's Patent No. 5," is fed, being continued for four days, 
when they are gradually worked on to mash. This mash con- 
sists of six parts bran, two each of corn meal and middlings, 
one part low grade flour, five parts cut green feed, and ten per 
cent of beef scrap. This is the ration, up to eight weeks, when 
the breeders are separated and fed as above noted, and the 
market ducks get more corn meal, (twice as much) more flour 
and a little more beef scrap. The cut green feed is lawn clips, 
cut green clover, corn fodder, Essex rape or wheat. At ten 
weeks they go to market. They have had water only to drink, 
and all precautions are taken to keep them out of the water. 
"A muddy or dirty duck will not thrive." This man says that 
one cent a pound additional cost of production means one thou- 
sand dollars loss to him; he is, therefore, good authority to tie 
to, because he knows what gives best results. He says it is 
important to have sandy or well-drained soil. "Water in the 
right place is good, but remember, the day of the puddle duck 
is past. To get the price to-day, your ducks must be raised 
under sanitary conditions, and ducklings so raised show the 
benefit of such treatment." 



Ill 



System and Forethought in 
Making a Market 



CHAPTER XI 

Up to the time of the present writing, Indian Runner ducks 
have been kept so busy in supplying the demand for eggs for 
hatching, that they have not had time to "bother" with market 
eggs. The fact that the young grow to mature size in the short 
period of something like twelve weeks has made it possible to 
sell hatching eggs freely during two-thirds of the year, even to 
northern breeders, while those who want eggs to go south will 
take them at almost any time except in the very hottest months. 
Some do not even make this exception. A letter received late 
in November says : "I am filling some orders to southern cus- 
tomers. The half- Waltons are doing a good share of the lay- 
ing." A note received in late October of this year from a well- 
known breeder, mentioned just having taken off a fine hatch 
of ducklings from the incubators, and said that he was still 
hatching for himself every egg he could hold to. I do not 
think the later hatched birds ever attain such good size, but 
they help out while stock is still scarce. Among the early 
hatched birds, in our own yards, we frequently have males which 
go a half-pound above Standard weight. 

112 



Last year, a breeder told me that he filled one order for 
5,000 eggs. Perhaps others fill even larger ones. Hut he was 
obliged to call on neighbor breeders for quite a proportion of 
his order; since it would take 250 ducks three weeks to lay 
5,000 eggs, even if every duck laid every day, and, every egg was 
perfect. This is, of course, beyond the limit of laying for any 
flock of domestic fowls of this size. Or for any flock. 

"What sellers they are !" is a suggestive sentence regarding 
Indian Runners, from a private letter received here in October, 
1910. This attribute has belonged to these ducks ever since I 
have known anything about them. The demand has snapped 
up, — usually before winter, — all that could be raised, for breed- 
ing; and even then it was not satisfied with the amount of the 
supply. This market, both for eggs and for stock has, in one 
sense, made itself. 

But, in the future, as the farms work more into raising 
Indian Runners, there will need to be some systematic effort 
to make markets which will take all the supply at a satisfactory 
price. Considering the matter of price from the actual, intrinsic 
value, since the eggs of the Runner average to weigh one-half 
more than the standard, market hens' eggs, they should be worth 
one-half more. This must be discounted a little by the fact 
that "an egg's an egg," and, for strictly table use, three hens' 
eggs will "go farther" than two ducks' eggs (usually serving 
three persons,) though the eaters will not get the same amount 
of nutriment. There is also the old prejudice against ducks' 
eggs to be reckoned with. Judging by intrinsic value alone, 
when hens' eggs bring forty cents in a firm market, Indian Run- 
ner ducks' eggs should be worthy sixty cents. Whether we 
shall ever attain to this as a permanent standard of comparative 
values, I am unable to prophesy. At Easter, I think there will 
be no difficulty in doing it; at other times, until the market is 
firmly established, we may, perhaps, find it necessary to take 
a price from five to ten cents above the market price of hens' 
eggs at any given time, or less at some seasons. 

H3 



I know of one case in which in New York market, a 
breeder sold Indian Runner eggs in crate lots, at 17c and up- 
ward, more than the going price for fine hens' eggs. This was 
at Easter time, and several years ago, even before all eggs were 
as high in price all the time as is now the case. I know, too, 
of a certain physician, practising in a small town, who recom- 
mended Indian Runner eggs for his patients, as preferable to 
hens' eggs. In that city, the Runner eggs have brought at least 
five cents more than hens' eggs, regularly, through some years 
and down to the present time. This does not seem enough, but 
when we remember that the Runners are more prolific than hens, 
that they lay during a longer average period, and that they will 
thrive on coarser feed, with less coddling, and with cheaper 
housing, the argument in favor of the Runners is pretty strong. 

There is one point about selling which I want to make as 
emphatic as possible. This is : the sellers must ignore the pre- 
judice against duck eggs — a relic of a careless age, or poorer 
ducks — except when obliged to meet it through the inquiry of 
a possible customer ! Talk about the good qualities of the Run- 
ner eggs, and especially about their size and their sweetness. 
They have both, so that your arguments are ready for you in 
the goods you have to sell, regardless of the class of goods your 
grandfathers sold. If you have eggs enough to warrant it, put 
an advertisement into your town paper, offering eggs at a stated 
price, and telling the points in which they are superior to hens' 
eggs. When the people have read it times enough, they will 
believe it. This is the best way to make a market for any 
poultry products, if you have enough to make it an object. It 
costs very little, and it enables you to sell birds when they are 
ready, instead of holding the good till the backward catch up, 
which they seldom really do. Besides, if you word your notices 
to that end, you are educating your possible customers up to your 
class of product, and when they want stuff, they will seek you. 

While I do not, at present, urge that the Indian Runner 

114 



be grown specifically as a market duck, our recent experience 
shows that it can be thus grown, and profitably so. We placed, 
in the village paper, a fifteen-word advertisement offering table 
ducks, at door, alive, at one dollar each. A single insertion sold 
all we had to spare, within two weeks. A little earlier, we made 
an opening into the trade of a high class city club, at the same 
price, dressed. It makes little difference as to the last, if one 
have the time for the work, as the feathers will more than pay 
for it. Inasmuch as ducks, like the commoner fowls, come about 
half males, there is always a surplus of these. There will also 
be a proportion of old ducks to work off, each year. I think 
it would be better, in general, to send these in one lot, to a city 
market. 

Selling anything is a psychological experience. Many are 
good salesmen, because they have some natural keenness which 
enables them to go about it right. Experience may add much, 
also. And, because it is a psychological thing, it may be learned 
through a general study of psychology, the results of which will 
apply to every experience in business, social or family life. It 
sounds fearsome, but it is fascinating and practical. 

For those who cannot help to build up a market, there are 
opportunities now which were never before offered. One east- 
ern firm is offering, during the autumn of 1910, highest market 
rates on good poultry of all kinds, and furnishing coops, return- 
ing the price of coops when they reach the store with their 
consignment of poultry. 



ii5 



Educating the Market 



CHAPTER XII 

One morning, I invaded the down-town streets of the big- 
gest city, where Commission Houses are thickest. I interviewed 
men whom I knew to have been selling Indian Runner eggs, and 
men I had never heard of. I questioned small dealers in pro- 
duce from the farms, and the oldest and largest firm, I think, 
in the business in New York. At least, I was told that they 
were one of the oldest and largest, and knew eggs from A. to Z., 
and back again ! 

At this last place, I struck what seems to me the key to the 
situation, in this as in other matters. And it is along the line 
of what I said last year. "We can't educate the market," said 
the firm's representative, protestingly ; we aren't near enough 
to the consumers. We have to take what comes to. us, and sell 
it if we can, and that is the whole of the Commission business. 
If the market is to be educated to the use of duck eggs, some 
one else must do it !" 

Very few firms would allow that Indian Runner or any other 
duck eggs were wanted in New York, during the latter part 
of the year. The market has not been used to them, and a large 
proportion of the buyers are prejudiced against them. There 

116 



are some nationalities that like them, however. The Irish, it is 
said, are so partial to green that they will even take a green 
duck egg. « 

The situation in New York at the time of writing — Novem- 
ber — is about like this : "Very few near-by eggs are arriving, 
and these, even when from henneries, are often badly mixed with 
old eggs. New laid quality has become very scarce and it is 
hard to get enough fancy whites to supply even the limited de- 
mand. Values are quite irregular. Very fancy, large, new 
laid, hennery whites could be peddled out up to 43c and 45c, 
but there are very few such; and jobbers would hardly pay 
more than 41c and 42c for the best." This was the report of 
The New York Produce Review, under date of Oct. 18, 191 1. 
At the same time, in another column, fine lots of "strictly fine 
full, strong-bodied fresh (western) were rated at 28c for the 
best." There are some lots of western graded and candled eggs 
which even though showing very little dead loss, contain too 
few full fresh to exceed 22c and 23c. The better grades of 
regular packed western have had a moderate demand at 24c and 
25c. these passing fairly high in the grade of firsts. Occasion- 
ally, a lot of ungraded stock shows enough new laid quality to 
reach 26c, but there are not many as good as that. One other 
sentence: "There is fair call for useful summer eggs at 17c 
and 18c." 

Here, we have what seems to me a situation impossible to 
hold : a market keen for large, fancy white eggs, reaching in 
early autumn as high as 45c at the extreme; a perfectly good, 
sweet large fancy white egg in sight for this market so that it 
may have a good supply, and the market looking askance at this 
offered egg because, forsooth, of a "prejudice." "Fresh dirties" 
and "checks" western ungraded and "useful summer" sorts — all 
these are attractive to the buyer, but not the strictly white, 
translucent, extra large fancy which is knocking at the market 
door! Does it seem to you that such a condition will hold 

117 



long? Do you not begin to wonder what is the underlying rea- 
son for the unhelpful attitude of the Commision Houses toward 
the Indian Runner egg? I have not yet been able to ferret out 
the reason for this attitude. 

I put it up to the representative of one of the largest houses : 
"Is it not reasonable to suppose that a perfectly good food pro- 
duct like the Indian Runner egg will make its own market, in 
time, when it begins to come in in quantity?" After some 
hesitation, the point was admitted. "Yes ; it would sell at some 
price. You can sell anything in New York, if you will sell it 
cheap enough ; but," he concluded, triumphantly, "that isn't 'New 
York Market'." 

At another place, while agreeing that New York did not 
want duck eggs, the representative of the firm (which is selling 
them for shippers) told me that if they laid well early (which 
would add to the average price) they would, even now, equal the 
average of the Leghorn eggs in price. He thought that, in time, 
as the market found that it must deal with the Runner egg, the 
average price might rise. 

At another very large place, while there was still this in- 
explicable undertone of opposition, or, at least, of doubt, the 
representative told me that the yearly average price of duck eggs 
would figure out 35c a dozen, as things are now. He said that 
they would sell to 45c in the spring. Speaking to my question 
as to this egg making its own market, eventually, he said that 
while it might go slow at first, it would surely sell. He stated 
that the Irish and the Germans were good buyers of duck eggs. 

Another firm said that the duck egg would undoubtedly 
make its own market with a premium on hens' eggs, in time. 

On the day I was in the market, "Leghorn" eggs were quoted 
up to 38c as the extreme fancy price. Duck eggs were then 
selling at 25c to 30c. In order to understand the varying re- 
ports regarding the Indian Runner eggs as compared with hens' 
eggs, we need to know two things which are hard to realize : one 

tt8 



is that, before Easter, duck eggs sell far above hens' eggs, some- 
times being at a premium of 50 per cent ; the other is that, later, 
they bring about the same as hens' eggs, while in autumn, they 
sometimes fall below. 

This last is anomalous, and I think will be reversed when 
the Indian Runner egg has had time to prove itself. It does 
not seem reasonable that any market demanding a large, fancy 
white egg, should long hold aloof from such an egg when of- 
fered, simply because it bore a different name from what was 
customary. Commission men say they cannot deal with theories ; 
they must take facts as they are. They have a hard enough 
time, some of them think, even at that! It remains, then, to 
change the facts. The facts are already somewhat different 
from what they were a year ago. A year ago, scarcely a com- 
mission dealer in New York knew about the Indian Runner — or 
had so much as heard of it. Now, many of them know more 
or less about it. 

I have been considering quite seriously, putting a small adv. 
in a New York paper, describing the merits of the Indian Run- 
ner. Such a move would mean calls upon dealers for the eggs. 
But it does not seem wise to do this just now, since to work 
up a call before there is much chance to supply it would be likely 
to do more harm than good. 

Meanwhile, this whole matter narrows down to one of 
individual business ability. Did it ever occur to you that the 
reason eggs are such a good farm crop is that they sell them- 
selves ? Extra business ability may greatly enlarge the income 
from a specified number. But even without that special ability, 
the egg crop can be sold to reasonable advantage, because the 
demand is ahead of the supply of the wanted quality, much of 
the year. 

It is still true that very many who have gone into Runners 
are disposing of their output as fancy eggs at an inflated price. 
The number of advertisers known to me this year is nearly 

119 



double the number offering Runner eggs for hatching last year. 
It is coming to this, now : a paper that came in from the south 
this morning carried a big advertisement, the burden of which 
was Indian Runner Ducks. It said: "Will have, to arrive to- 
day, 50 fawn and White I. R. Ducks. Drop around and see 
them. Will sell cheap." You must admit that this isn't so 
bad for a small southern city, so early in the game! I rather 
think it distances New York. But there is a distinct reason: 
one of the dailies of this same city has been acting as a sort 
of wet nurse to the poultry business for several years. Don't 
tell me enterprise doesn't count ! And that is what the individual 
grower needs. 

A letter of this morning said : "If I can only dispose of the 
product, you need not be greatly surprised to see this farm 
covered with Indian Runners before many years." This was 
from a beginner, who had not yet tried the market. Another 
of my letters from the same state says : "We have 18 pure 
Indian Runner Ducks to start with. They lay a nice large 
white tgg. Wq get 50c per dozen the whole year ; but yet we 
know nothing about ducks !" 

Another writes : "I am a general farmer and not a poultry- 
man, but I have a flock of 55 ducks (Runners) and a large and 
growing southern trade. I can increase ad libitum. Have 
handled Runners four or five years under range, and know 
what they should be worth to the farmer as well as any one 
in the United States. Also, I know the good and the harm 
the fancier does the farmer in poultry, particularly in Runners, 
and so thoroughly appreciate your good work in this book (first 
edition of Runner Duck Book.) If I were not an advertiser, 
I would write more as simple justice to the duck and to advise 
the south of what it means to it." Later, this breeder wrote me 
that he had been obliged to return a large proportion of the 
orders for eggs through inability to supply the stiff demand. 

One beginner, who had products to sell for the first, in 



120 



the spring of 1911, and from a good-sized flock, sold some of 
his eggs very early in the New York Commission district at 
prices above those of hens' eggs. Later, he sold eggs for hatch- 
ing, and a good many day-old ducklings, getting fifty cents apiece 
for the best of these. 

^Ir. Hunter recently took occasion to say: "The Indian 
Runner is a very small dnck, comparable to the Leghorn hen in 
size, and considerable use has been made of the comparison in 
the effort to capture public favor." This is exactly the kind of 
a blunder which might be expected from people who are not 
breeders of Indian Runners, and who show how little they know 
about them by just such unnecessary and mistaken flings. As 
a matter of fact, the Runner is not as small in proportion to the 
"mammoth" Pekin as the average Leghorn is in proportion to 
the huge Brahma. In the second place, no use whatever has 
been made of the comparison in size, by Runner breeders. 

They compare the Runner to the Leghorn because it is an 
exceptionally active bird, a non-sitter and a phenomenal layer — 
all of which are claims made decade in and decade out for the 
Leghorn. They have, heretofore, made no claims for the Indian 
Runner as a market fowl, because they felt that she could make 
her record on her laying ability alone. 

Now. however, the logic of events makes a record for the 
Runner as a market duck. Her breeders have not pushed for 
it; her detractors have gone out of the way to say how small 
and worth-little she is ; and the market shows them all wrong. 
More might have been claimed than has been claimed ! Not 
even the most rabid commission merchant in New York has 
said aught but that any duck, well fattened, would sell. And 
now we see the Indian Runner pushing the Pekin out. 

During 191 1, the Indian Runner proceeded to make more 
history as follows (according to the story just published in our 
most influential poultry publication) : On a farm where they 
handle so much poultry that the feed bill is reported as $150.00 

121 



a day, and the housing capacity for growing ducks is 30,000, the 
Indian Runner has turned things topsy-turvy. The story goes 
that the Pekin, here, as everywhere in recent years, was the 
staple market duck. But the proprietors of this farm had a 
large call for four-pound ducks. To supply this demand, they 
decided in 1910, to try the Indian Runner. From purchased 
eggs, they raised 1000 of these ducks. These ducks were re- 
ported as reaching the desired four pounds in weight as soon as 
the Pekin would reach five and one-half pounds, and doing it on 
about half the feed. It is not profitable, these breeders say, to 
sell the Pekin at four pounds' weight. This is exactly where 
the Runner gets in its innings. And, whereas all the output 
formerly went to New York, a local trade has been developed, 
taking practically all the present product. Hence, it's "a fig for 
New York," at this plant. 

At the time the reporter was at the plant, two young men 
from the south were there studying the possibilities. Nor is 
this the first interest the south has shown in this matter. Early 
in 191 1, I received a letter discussing the Indian Runner for 
the Southern market. A part of it read as follows: — "At the 
age of five weeks, I haven't a duckling that weighs less than a 
pound and a half. I never, in all my experience with poultry, 
saw anything grow like an Indian Runner duckling. My duck- 
lings are the curiosity of the neighborhood, and I am satisfied 
that I can dispose of both stock and eggs at good prices just 
as fast as I can produce them. During the greater part of the 
winter here the temperature rarely falls below 40 degrees, and 
anything near zero weather is unheard-of in this country. I 
can hatch ducks all winter, and by spring will have about all 
I want for my own use. We have here a city of some 40,000 
inhabitants, and from what I can learn, there are not a half 
dozen men within a radius of 300 miles of here that breed the 
Indian Runner. In addition to that, we have all Mexico south 
of us, which is rapidly settling up with small farmers. Just 

122 



the other day I had an inquiry from away below Mexico City. 
A local supply man had received a request to put him in touch 
with some one who had Indian Runners and had referred him 
to me." 

There are other indications which show that the south is 
not quite asleep and letting this her opportunity pass. A glance 
over the entries at the Missouri State Poultry Show, even as 
long ago as late in 1910, might teach a little something. With 
409 exhibitors, and 47 varieties named as on exhibition besides 
a "lot of odds and ends," only twelve varieties could show more 
specimens than the Indian Runner. Even the Bronze turkey — 
almost Missouri's patron saint — had only 78 to the Indian Run- 
ner's 67. And the Bronze ranks as an old timer, now, while the 
Runner is just beginning its conquering course. 

I wrote to a man in New Hampshire whom I knew to have 
been raising Indian Runners for eggs during some years, asking 
him how he found his market. In October, 191 1, he said that 
he was getting thirty cents in Boston market, while offered at 
the same time, 38c for hens' eggs. Probably the situation would 
be even more than this in favor of the ducks, in the spring. As 
time passes, it is my opinion that it will even up at both ends 
of the season. 

This correspondent said: "I don't know how we can bet- 
ter the market, but in time there will be a demand for duck 
eggs all the year, when people learn of their superiority over 
hen eggs. Last year, we kept account of the duck eggs laid. 
Ninety-seven ducks laid 154 each." 

I wrote Park and Pollard, the well-known Boston dealers, 
who, having both been expert poultrymen before going into mar- 
ket handling, are more than usually likely to know their business. 
They replied: "We have interviewed various egg dealers in 
the large market in Boston, and find there is a considerable 
demand all the year around for ducks' eggs. It has been espe- 
cially good during the later winter and spring, and generally, 

123 



the supply has not been equal to the demand. The average 
price for Indian Runner eggs is five cents per dozen less than 
the top price for hennery eggs. Regarding the Indian Runners 
as market ducks, they are not in high favor, as all dealers would 
prefer a duck that weighs five pounds or more at ten or eleven 
weeks." Readers must remember that Boston market is, in many 
respects, exactly the opposite of many other large city markets. 
And, as the average of hens' eggs in market may bring only 
around half ''the top price for hennery eggs," mentioned above, 
the story is rather favorable for the Runner eggs instead of un- 
favorable, as one might at first glance think. 

Poultry, as well as other history, is in the course of such 
rapid making that we forget first occurrences and conditions, 
even though we ourselves were once in the midst of them. 

Suppose, for instance, that the poultry public could once 
more place itself back twenty years or something like this dis- 
tance, in time, and watch the Pekin duck make its fight for 
favor as a market duck. In May, of this year of writing, I saw 
this matter referred to editorially in The American Hen Mag- 
azine. This is what was said : "Odd as it may seem, it was the 
duck growers who first won the victory on a large scale. We 
say 'odd,' because the duck men had to create their market. 
There was no demand for green ducks, meaning ten and twelve 
weeks' old Pekins, weighing four to five pounds each, until James 
Rankin, Easton, Mass., known as the 'father of the Pekin Duck 
industry in America,' built up trade in this line by sending pairs 
of tender, green ducks of his production to friends and acquaint- 
ances in and around Boston." 

The Indian Runner has no such hard task as this, for she 
finds a market asking for duck meat, and a market asking for 
large, white, "full-bodied^ eggs. She can supply all these. The 
one thing she has to do is to convince the people that her claims 
to egg quality are just claims: that she can, — to use a modem 
phrase, l< deliver the goods." 

124 



A most excellent suggestion was made public by the late 
Chauneey E. Anderson, of Pennsylvania. He quoted from the 
Cleveland Daily Leader, under date of March 23, 191 1 : "Eggs, 
fresh gathered, extra firsts, iSy 2 c dozen; firsts, 17^ dozen; 
current receipts, i6 T / 2 c dozen; seconds, 15c; duck eggs, 28c and 
30c." Following this, Mr. Anderson urged that duck breeders 
send in regular consignments of Runner eggs to city markets, 
"and use every effort in your power to have them regularly 
quoted in the market columns of the daily papers. You will 
reap the benefit in the sale of stock and eggs for hatching. ,, Mr. 
Anderson closed his article as follows : "My advice is by all 
means secure a strain that lays pure white eggs, as they are 
more prolific than the others." 



125 



Selling and Cooking Value of 
Indian Runner Eggs 



CHAPTER XIII 

There are three aspects under which eggs may be considered, 
viz., as breeding material; as market stock; as a household 
necessity and luxury. The last is the strong point, if we take 
numbers into consideration ; yet, as the number of eggs produced 
depends quite largely, in some cases, upon the breeding value, it 
seems to me rather fitting to consider the eggs as breeding ma- 
terial, before taking up the other two points. 

Indian Runner eggs, at their best, hatch better than any 
other eggs of which I have had personal knowledge, taking the 
season through. During the 1910 hatching season, we had 
them running for a long time, under actual test, at from 95 per 
cent to 100 per cent fertile. One hundred per cent of fertility 
does not, necessarily, mean a one hundred per cent hatch. But 
it is known that duck eggs generally hatch well when all the 
conditions are favorable, as compared with hens' eggs. They 
need a little more moisture while under incubation, than do the 
better-known hens' eggs. 

The real value of the Runner eggs, as breeding material, 
will rest very largely on the conditions under which the ducks 
are kept. In order to be able to hatch near the one hundred 
per cent which we take as ideal (and not impossible a part of 
the time) the conditions of yarding, feeding, etc., must also ap- 
proach the ideal. There must be fair room, proper proportion 

126 



of males to females, sufficient shell material and grit, and plenty 
of fresh, lush green feed, besides the grain and meat, in various 
forms, which comprise the usual rations, not to mention the 
indispensable water to drink. It will not do to neglect any of 
these points, if one desires, or expects good hatches of good 
ducks. 

There is, too, yet another point that needs consideration. I 
think breeders all through our land have been far too careless, 
in the past, as to the length of time eggs were kept before ship- 
ment. It is hardly fair to blame them harshly, because it has 
been widely published by the leaders that eggs would keep, with 
good care, from three weeks to a month, and still hatch rea- 
sonably well. Experiments at the Cornell Station show that 
this is a fallacy; that (hen) eggs hatch without loss from 
depreciation to any great extent, up to two weeks. After that 
time, they lose rapidly in value for hatching purposes. 

I have known an early shipment of 200 hens' eggs, from 
one of the most prominent breeders, to give less than twenty 
chicks. There are two reasons which promptly present them- 
selves, beyond the possibility of infertility: these are, possible 
chilling of many, and possible holding beyond the age when 
they were fit to ship. When eggs are scarce, the temptation 
to hold them longer than one would do later in the season, is 
strong, and it is buttressed by the known fact that they will 
keep longer in cold weather than during summer heat. The 
carriers, too, often put a shipper in the wrong: sometimes by 
careless handling, against which we are helpless, because we can- 
not prove it unless there is breakage ; sometimes by undue delays 
on the road. Several times last season, I knew of shipments 
being twice and three times as long on the road as they should 
have been. One shipment which, had it been a passenger, would 
have gone through in 36 hours, was exactly a week on the road. 
A shipper has a right to calculate on prompt carriage, but the 
carriers, by a delay like this, may hold his eggs beyond the period 
of value for hatching purposes. Breeders need to keep these 
points always in mind, and I think it is wise to err on the safe 
side, if any, in shipping any kind of duck eggs. 

As market stock, the eggs of the Indian Runner have opened 
up possibilities never before ahead of us, at least, as far as we 
could know. They not only furnish the large sized product that 

127 



everybody likes to buy, but, under favorable conditions, they can 
be produced more cheaply than the smaller hens' eggs. / do 
not, by any means, wish to tempt every one to take up ducks. 
There are some points about handling all ducks, especially in con- 
finement, that do not commend themselves to the average person. 
Among these are the filth of their yards and the work of dressing 
the carcasses that must, eventually, go to market. The first of 
these can be overcome by proper management, on the right kind 
of location. Ducks can be kept, and do thoroughly well in con- 
finement, but this makes more work for the handler, as a matter 
of course. 

We have had Indian Runner ducks, raised wholly in con- 
finement, begin to shell out the eggs while still just less than four 
and one-half months old. This was without any conscious effort 
to push them. It is not common to them to lay quite so early 
as this. But they do lay earlier than hens, comparatively speak- 
ing; they do lay more persistently ; they do lay better in the 
autumn; they do make a higher record, on the average. When 
we add these items to the fact that they lay an egg exactly one- 
half larger than the standard of size for hens' eggs, and that 
those of the best English type have long been bred to lay white, 
translucent eggs, it is easy to see that their value as producers 
of market eggs is abnormally high, as compared with anything 
yet known. 

The eventual value of the green type egg turns entirely on 
the question as to whether or not a green egg will sell in the 
market. Possibly — a remote possibility, is it not ? — possibly some 
one will have business acumen and push sufficient to popularize 
the green egg just as some localities have popularized the brown 
egg of the Asiatics. This is not saying that they will not sell 
now; I hold that a perfectly good food product in as good gen- 
eral demand as eggs, should always sell, if the producer have 
any skill at all in marketing. But I leave it to the good sense 
of the reader whether the Indian Runner, so prolific and quick 
maturing; so likely therefore, to increase remarkably fast, would 
not better think twice before she lays a green egg for the aver- 
age buyer. For, it is the average buyer to whom we must cater, 
in all market offerings. We can educate him, but it is slow 
work, and it takes a skilled market man to do it. Our Irish 
population, it is said, do not have to be educated ; they swear by 
green wherever they find it. 

128 




Half Waltons" in Snow "Queen's Credit" ( Male) 

Runner, Kmbden Goose, "Queen's Content" and Hens' Eggs 
English Standard Babies 



When we come to the third point, the consideration of the 
Indian Runner tgg as a household luxury, we can make out a 
tremendous case. For while this "luxury" delights the producer 
by selling at special seasons, occasionally, at twice the price of 
hens' eggs, it usually brings but five to ten cents more a dozen, 
and late in the season sells on a par with hens' eggs. They are 
proportionately cheaper for the consumer than hens' eggs, just 
as soon as the latter get above twenty cents. They fall below 
this figure so seldom nowadays that it is safe to state that the 
ducks' eggs are always cheaper than hens' eggs, if only ten cents 
more a dozen. Two of these eggs will, at any time, take the 
place of three hens' eggs, even when the latter are fully up to 
the standard, market size, which is two ounces. No eggs were 
ever more delicately sweet than those of the Indian Runner; so 
that it may fairly be said that we shall soon have a luxury 
which is not extravagant, and which, it is hoped, may soon be- 
come plentiful on our markets. At the date of this writing, only 
a few favored buyers can have them, because there are not nearly 
enough to go around. The cities have hardly heard of the Indian 
Runner, as yet. 

I am fortunate in being able to report a household test, 
made*by Mrs. Grant M. Curtis, the editor of a Table Department 
in the "Reliable Poultry Journal." A breeder of the white-egg 
type, in western New York, sent to Mrs. Curtis's office some 
eggs for testing on all cookery points. The breeder's confidence 
in the English type of Indian Runner as a winner was not mis- 
placed. When the eggs were hard-boiled, or poached, the only 
fault that was found was that the whites were a little tougher 
than those of the hens' eggs, cooked in the same ways ; but, the 
yolk was reported as smoother and richer tasting. Soft-boiled, 
and used as frosting, they were affirmed to be equally good with 
hens' eggs. In custards, two eggs to a quart of milk took the 
place of the five eggs the cook was wont to use, and "it was 
as delicious a custard as we ever tasted." 

The lady who made these tests tried the eggs in making 
sponge cake, also, "believing that sponge cake is one of the most 
difficult cakes to make. Three eggs were used in the place of 
five with equally good results." The report closes : "We could 
not detect any unusual flavor in any of the eggs used, not even 
in the custard and cake. Having tested them, we should not 

129 



hesitate to purchase such duck eggs. ... in preference to 
hens' eggs, which are, alas, ofttimes so far below what should 
be standard size that we wish, with 'Uncle I. K.' that eggs were 
sold by the pound." As Mrs. Curtis acknowledged herself to 
have been, before this test, somewhat prejudiced against duck 
eggs, this may be regarded as a handsome amende to the Indian 
Runner. 

Not enough eggs remained to try omelet making. If the 
experimenter could have tried it, she would have found that it 
is in this point that the Indian Runner eggs score most strongly, 
perhaps. They make a most delicious omelet, will bear more 
liquid than hens' eggs, for this use, and may be used with water, 
instead of milk, when necessity demands. The firmer white 
doubtless is an advantage here, as the omelet is not so likely 
to fall, and some like it better with water than with milk, while 
the scalded milk is thus avoided in the case of the many invalids 
to whom milk seems to be poison. 

As an involuntary testimony to quality, the following little 
story of a 191 1 happening is significant: Two "cranks on eggs" 
were about to have their breakfast. It was mid-October, when 
laying things generally are prone to go on a strike. There 
were 75 laying (?) hens and 10 laying ducks on the place. The 
day before, the 75 hens had given seven eggs; the ten clucks, 
five eggs. 

Here," said one, "if you like hens' eggs best, you can have 
hens' eggs this morning." 

"I imagine I do," naively responded the other," but when 
they are both fresh, I can't tell the difference. I've tried and 
tried to find, — as the little girl said about liver, — 'something in 
it that don't taste good , and I really can't. It's just an old 
prejudice, as I proved the other morning by eating a duck egg 
inadvertently, thinking it was a delicious hen's egg." 



130 



Some Spurious and Some Genuine 
Indian Runners 



CHAPTER XIV 
By Mrs. Andrew Brooks. 

[There is no more faithful and ardent worker, and none 
with stronger convictions of the superior value of the English- 
bred, Penciled Runner of the white-egg type than Mrs. Andrew 
Brooks. She raises them largely, has the courage to pay for 
good stock, and almost literally lives with and for her Runners. 
It was her courage and persistence which stayed the downfall 
of the Penciled type when the American Standard threatened 
to sweep it off the earth. (I say this, because it was she who 
would not be said nay in her petition that I, who was breeding 
Runners to the English Standard and not bothering my head 
about the rest, should use my influence to save this valuable 
white-egg Runner for the farmers of the country.) It was she 
who sent eggs and ducks to be tested by those whose opinions 
were worth while; it was she who showed eggs to prove their 
size and purity of color; it was she who showed ducks where 
she knew they would be discredited by the judge, in order to 
learn valuable facts about judging as it is. 

In a prominent poultry journal, late in 1911, Mrs. Brooks, 
by request, told something of her own start. She there said: 
"Poultry keeping has solved the problem of an income for the 
women of the farms." One year, Mrs. Brooks herself sold 

131 



almost $1100.00 worth of products from about 50 Runners and 
250 Barred Rocks, mostly at market rates. Now, she does bet- 
ter, still holding to both, while "the ducks have it," as it were. 
It will be seen that she knows whereof she speaks. 

The remainder of this chapter gives her view of the Indian 
Runner situation. C. S. V.] 

As Indian Runners have been in this country only a few 
years, and an unjust and misfit Standard of so-called "Perfec- 
tion" was made for the breed, practically disqualifying true Run- 
ners, the present mixed and confusing state of affairs is not sur- 
prising. 

In making a standard, attention should be paid to nature's 
laws. This was not done. It is an established fact that the 
natural colors of Indian Runners are fawn and white, the female 
having penciled plumage, while the drakes have cap and cheek 
markings of dull, bronzy green with rumps bronzy black or 
brown, turning dark brown or fawn when coat is old (the shade 
depending upon the length of time that has elapsed since the 
molt, but never the same as body color). The American Stand- 
ard has demanded the same color in both sexes, namely, "light 
fawn," even throughout. Such a standard placed a premium 
on faking : blood foreign to the breed was bred in to secure light 
fawn color with no penciling on plumage of females and drakes 
having head and rump markings the same as the body color. As 
would be expected, this addition of foreign blood has brought 
about grave structural changes, altered the color of the eyes, also 
the color and size of the eggs, besides lessening the number of 
eggs. The chief value of the Indian Runners lies in their 
capacity to be veritable egg-factories of large, white, market- 
able eggs. As layers of such eggs, and as foragers, the Stand- 
ard hit them hardest, requiring zvrong position of legs, thus 
destroying the characteristic Runner gait and making less able 
foragers of them. The new Standard is an improvement over 
the old one in some respects, but it demands the brozm eyes, which 
have been acquired in making over the breed to conform to 
standard requirements, and to produce the required color of 
plumage. A shade in color of feathers would not much matter, 
but it should not be gained at the sacrifice of utility value. Long- 
fellow in The Builders said : 



H2 



"Nothing useless is or low 

Each thing in its place is best; 
And what seems but idle show 

Strengthens and supports the rest." 

This applies to fancy and commercial poultry; for, it should 
be remembered that the whole poultry industry is a structure 
resting upon the "firm and ample" foundations of economic 
value. If we tear this down and destroy utility, how long will 
the industry survive? 

I have had much correspondence with Indian Runner breed- 
ers in all parts of the United States and all their testimony proves 
the same thing, viz., that eggs from the light fawn American 
Standard-bred ducks are laid in fewer numbers ; such stock does 
not begin to lay so early in the season by some weeks; also 
ceases laying earlier in the fall : while true Runners do not 
cease entirely, even during the moult, as I can testify from ex- 
perience. A worse fault, in the light fawn ducks, is that they 
mostly lay green or tinted eggs of smaller size, that do not sell 
for so much. Our best markets call for white eggs, and owing 
to their mixed parentage these light fawns cannot reproduce 
themselves reliably. All my correspondents tell the same story 
of sending for eggs at high prices (naming the most prominent 
breeders;) of getting green or tinted or mixed colors of eggs 
that produce ducklings which show lack of uniformity, some 
being mostly yellow, some light and some dark. One man 
wrote : "I want to acquire a flock of genuine English Runners 
that will be second to none. I have enough of mongrels. I 
want a duck that will lay white eggs and plenty of them and 
reproduce themselves in type and markings, instead of the young 
looking like they were the result of mixing half a dozen widely 
different breeds. I'm sick and disgusted with my humiliating 
experience with American Standard Indian Runners. I have 
them that were hatched from eggs from ducks claimed to score 
96 points, and there is not one closer to the Indian Runner Stand- 
ard than is a Ronen." Another, late in the season, said he had 
spent weeks in trying to find eggs from flocks guaranteed to lay 
only white eggs and had not discovered one such flock. He 
judged by the discussion which he read in the papers about the 
Standard that I must have them, and added: "For heaven's 
sake don't say you have all the orders you can fill." One in- 

133 



quirer asks : "Will you furnish ducks that are guaranteed to 
lay white eggs only, or money refunded ?" It is a significant fact 
that most of such inquiries come from the midst of the locality 
where the light fawns are most extensively bred. Another 
writer, who met with disappointment in trying to breed to the 
American Standard, wrote of buying the highest priced birds 
the most prominent "light fawn" breeder would sell, keeping 
them side by side with real Runners with the same care and 
feeding, only to find that they were not so valuable as the ducks 
they were trying to displace, as they were so much poorer layers, 
and of tinted eggs. Hundreds of ducks laying green or tinted 
eggs are kept in some flocks. The eggs are scattered broadcast 
all over the country to purchasers who believe that they are 
buying Runners, innocently supposing that "Runners are Run- 
ners," and not knowing that there are imitations of the real 
article, which are sold as "genuine." This is only a faint picture 
of the situation. No wonder that true Runners are scarce and 
high priced. 

Who can count the cost of the harm done? It is beyond 
computation. The fancy and the utility should go together, but 
as matters now stand prospective buyers will have to decide 
whether they will breed for show and fancy requirements or 
whether they want the most valuable, practical duck from the 
utility point of view, the ones giving best money value. For us, 
we will concede Standard excellence (?) to the fanciers ; they 
are welcome to the duck they have created! Theirs will answer 
for exhibition purposes, as judges must place awards according 
to Standard. We will concern ourselves with maintaining the 
breed in its highest type and purity for the farmer and utility 
breeder. Runners are pre-eminently the farmers' breed. They 
are at their best on the free range of the farms, as they get 
along with less care than hens. They are what the farmers 
need in these days of high priced labor. Runners will lay 
as many eggs as the best breeds of hens. No other breed 
of ducks will lay so many white eggs ; no others are such 
foragers, or so capable of gaining a large share of their living, 
thus reducing the cost of feed, and they adapt themselves well 
to adverse conditions. In the eighth annual Australian Lay- 
ing competition two pens of Runners averaged above 200 eggs 
each. As no meat was obtainable, no animal food was fed in 

134 



their ration during the time of the test. What hens fed in like 
manner could have made so good a showing? Meat or animal 
food is even more necessary for ducks than for hens. When 
given free range they find much of it for themselves, working 
as they do, busy as bees from morning till late at night (stormy 
days the same or more so) thrusting their bills deep into the 
grass, searching for worms or insects. Nothing escapes their 
notice ! A farmer who is a near neighbor of ours has six Run- 
ners, yearlings. Now, in the latter part of November, he is 
receiving 4 or 5 eggs every day and feeds them only corn ; no 
mash at all. As they have free range, I suppose they balance 
their own ration. They are kept dry-bedded at night : the first 
essential in raising ducks. Early hatched young ducks or year- 
lings, or older birds, if managed right, will lay as well as, or 
better than, hens, in the fall when prices are high and eggs most 
appreciated. I know personally that, with such care as the 
average farmer can give, they will give flock averages of 150 
eggs each in a year. The results of the annual duck laying com- 
petitions in Australia are very interesting and instructive, but I 
am not so much concerned with the records of such tests or the 
records of individual layers, as I am in the flock averages of 
these ducks, when well managed on the free range of the farms 
or in the hands of the utility poultry breeder. The labor ques- 
tion is getting to be a serious one, but the ducks help to solve it, 
as they are more easily cared for than hens. They are not 
troubled with lice, nor with mites, so that there are no houses to 
spray nor roosts to grease, no frozen combs to treat, no drop- 
ping boards to scrape off, no scratching up of gardens or flying 
into grain bins. Nor is there need for so many males as are 
needed with the larger breeds : one male being sufficient for ten 
or more females on free range. They can be housed very 
cheaply; fences cost less, if the ducks have to be yarded, as 
low fences will hold them ; when matured, they eat no more than 
hens. It is also less work to raise the young stock, because they 
grow up so quickly. The young ones may be brought into lay- 
ing at five months of age, and eggs sell for more than hens' 
eggs. As the call has been so great for hatching eggs, I sell 
at market only a portion of the time, but I have sold enough to 
know that eggs will sell for five to six cents per dozen more than 
hens' eggs. Have shipped to a commission dealer in New York 

135 



for the month before Easter when I received from 1 8 to 20 
cents per dozen more than I received for hens' eggs. I learned 
that after Easter commission men pay a premium of five cents 
per dozen more than they pay for Leghorn eggs. They may 
be packed in one side of the case by themselves, if there are not 
sufficient to fill the case. 

Runners are so valuable for layers that they are not sold 
to any extent at market for the table. But the surplus males 
find sale at good prices, the meat being so tender and delicious. 
The Runner is really in a class by itself, as it has such rich, 
gamy flavor. Since these ducks grow up so quickly and cost 
less to feed than Pekins, there is no reason why enterprising 
poultrymen cannot build up a good trade for them as market 
ducks. 



136 



The Future of the Indian Runners 
in America 



CHAPTER XV 

There is no question, I think, that at the present writing, the 
majority of the fanciers of the country still favor the plain, fawn 
type that has been convicted of laying so many green eggs 
(showing impurity, Mr. Jaeger says!) It could hardly be other- 
wise, indeed, since the American Standard has demanded for 
some years back, that only such birds should be bred. Of course, 
all but the independent thinkers followed like sheep, whatever 
the Standard demanded, whether it meant a good Indian Run- 
ner, or not. And, I have no doubt that most of them have 
taught themselves to admire the plain feathers most, in the Indian 
Runner, even if they did not do so at first. Yet, the very same 
breeders would go into raptures over a Cornish hen if she 
showed extra good penciling! Many of these breeders are so 
inconsistent as to argue for the greater beauty of the plain Run- 
ner, when it is a well-known fact that pencilings, lacings, and the 
like have given all the more distinctive beauty to our wonderfully 
varied breeds of the ornamental types among our domestic fowls. 
Those distinctively known as "ornamental" (therefore especially 
beautiful, of course) are the ones that show most variation in 
colors and markings. The plain are simply — well, plain, and that 
is all there is to it. 

Many of the judges, I am told, have Indian Runners. I can 
name several whom I know to breed them. Of course, they have 

137 



exceptional opportunities to get good, Standard birds, and it 
would be too much to expect of human nature that all these 
people should now be willing to have a differing bird made Stand- 
ard, off hand, no matter if it is the true, original Runner, and 
a better economic bird. 

There were, in a dozen of the best poultry papers, during 
the height of the 191 1 season, something like 300 breeders ad- 
vertising Indian Runners, virtually all claiming the "true" type. 
Those of the plain-feather camp, meant "true to American 
Standard." Those who bred the original Runner, meant "true 
to the English Standard type," though I fancy most of them 
have tried to lighten the color so as to make the pencilings less 
distinct. Indeed, indistinct penciling is what the English Stand- 
ard calls for. 

The content of "truth" in the Indian Runner of the future 
should be incontestably large, since there is so much variation, 
yet all "true." It is also true that variation is likely to con- 
tinue. Among all the breeders whom I know to have carried 
the English type, the large majority have announced their inten- 
tion of keeping to that type, regardless of what the American 
Standard for fancy fowls may be. The chief, economic reasons 
which they give are : the better laying of the English type ; and, 
the white eggs. The promise is, then, that there will continue 
to be bred in this country two types of Indian Runner, differing 
from each other really more than the white Orpington, say, 
differs from the white Plymouth Rock. Both will claim to be 
"true," and the confusion that will result will be intensified as 
numbers increase. 

This means — (as I must again emphasize) — that it behooves 
every one who wants Indian Runners, no matter of which type, 
to inform himself thoroughly as to the differences in the two 
types, and to be very sure that he buys of a breeder who has 
what he wants. The two types have been bred together, which 
of course makes more confusion. The oldest of the breeders 
here of the English type sold birds, years ago, to the chief pro- 
moters of the American Standard type of to-day. Very many 
breeders have tried both types. A dozen or more of them have 
written of their experiences in the poultry papers. Of them 
all, I think only one has reported that the American type were 



T38 



the better layers. All the others stated that, when handled side 
by side, the English type were the better layers. 

I am not for a minute in opposition to those who really 
want to breed the Runner of the American, Standard type. 
What I do want, is to make sure that the farmers, who are to 
supply the great majority of buyers of Indian Runner eggs for 
hatching, for some years at least, shall get the type of bird that 
will prove most practical. They will stand, to a man, for the 
white-egg type, I am certain. They will also stand for the Eng- 
lish type strongly when they are made to know that it calls for 
a bird with longer body, and therefore with more tgg and meat 
capacity. Even the Secretary of the National Indian Runner 
Club said publicly (June, 1910) : "If we lower the type and egg 
production by having them fawn and white, we certainly should 
have a different Standard." 

When we think of the best English Indian Runners, a yard 
long from tip of bill to tip of tail, and compare them, mentally, 
with the runty, American Standard type too often shown in past 
years, it is easy to see why the breeders to the American Stand- 
ard fight against having the Standard weight raised. Many of 
the pictures of the American type show a bird with neck about 
as long as body, not including tail, the body being short and 
stumpy at the stern like the one at the right in our cut of the 
American Standard-bred males. Often the stern is so stumpy 
that it gives a peculiar impression of being "out of drawing 
someway," as an artist would say. It does not balance grace- 
fully. The effect of having the legs set so far back in order 
to get the running balance, and then tucking the stern up so 
stumpily, is indeed, ungraceful in the extreme. The exhibition 
birds here shown are from some of the most prominent breeders 
of the American type of Runner and shown in 1909 and 1910. 
Neither in shape nor in carriage can they compare with really 
good Indian Runners. 

If each breeder will have the courage of his convictions, and 
advertise plainly what he has, it will save much confusion for 
buyers, and an immense amount of disparagement of Indian 
Runner breeders. At the present writing, there are plenty of 
buyers for both types. Some time ago, I received an inquiry for 
"first-class fawn and white stock." Believing that this customer 
wanted the American type, I answered briefly, telling him that 

T39 



the English type of Runner which I carried, would not win 
firsts for him in any large show, tinder present Standard de- 
mands. To my surprise, hack came a letter wanting my birds, 
the price being the same as would have been asked for the same 
grade of birds bred to American Standard. 

It is scarcely possible, I think, to insist too Strongly that 
those who believe in the Indian Runner as bred to the Specific, 
English Standard, should make clear in each advertisement, just 
what they are otYering. Only in this way. can we avoid the in- 
finite confusion which is likely to arise. 

In 1010, I >aid : "It would be only just it classes should 
be made, in the shows, tor the English-bred duck. Jt would 
be the only anwndc that could be made for having taken the 
breed name away from this duck and given it to a substitute 
duck. It is perfectly practicable, as I see it. to have classes for 
the English type, and judged by the English Standard." This 
good work has now begun. 

As I WlOtC the closing words of this chapter in 1910. there 
came to my desk a new l>ooklet from a breeder of the "fawn and 
white" type for the last six years. Referring to the Runners 
of the American Standard type, he mentions their "real value 
as a layer of !<irp t \ gretn cvtil wkit€ eggs of much value." He 
tates that he would prefer all white c^>. Inasmuch as 
this testimony comes from the midst oi the "fawn and white" 
camp, surely none who breed the English type can Ik- accused 
of unfairness or of bias in making similar statements. And 
for their own trade, they need only to make it widely known 
that they have the strain known to lay white egg>. and trade C9fH 
nut to ; it has been doing for some years past. 

Future? Her future brightens daily! Nearly every mail 
brings ^hm\ iicw> of some new opening, some change to higher 
status of the genuine Runners. Only occasionally is there any 
doubt i^i the Runner. 

I read on this (fay of writing, one of the very few stories 
of failure with the Indian Runner. The story ran that the first 
sitting ^i eggs from "a prominent breeder" gave only two 
ducklil nd sitting gave five ducklings, all oi which 

lived to maturity, but from the two ducks. June-hatched, only 
one egg was received 111 March, and later, the owner sold them 
in disgust. 1 i\o not hesitate to say that one of two things was 

140 



back of this: either the stock was run-down, weak show stock 
or clo-e-yarded till it was worthle IC the ducks had no 

decent care. 

;y : Whether the genuine Indian Runner of the 
best type will make good or not does not enter into the question 
of the future of the breed here at all ; she will absolutely do her 
part. That is proved. The only thing that does enter as a real 
question is whether or n -uffident \ju- lity 

to make a market for the eg The Runner will 

furnish at least three varieties of fancy ducks; her "difference," 
her distinction ensure that. But, if, as a farm duck, she i 
make g eople must be a 1 , :1 the eggs. If James 

Rankin was able to push a duck not at all wanted into the mar- 
ket, and to create such a demand that by the 
ter: n individual growers' hands, are we willing 
admit that we cannot make a market for a product in such 
infinitely greater demand, viz., large white eggs ? J affirm that, 
if this maty not work ; like, it will be our 
fault, not that of the Indian Runner! 

The most interesting possibility, to me, just now, is the 
future of the Indian Runner. Every day adds to the possibilities. 
The morning mail, this November day, — the day before the 

an Runner Duck Book g — brought me the n 

that the big Chicago would receive the English Runr 

and the white Runners on the same terms with the Amer: 

idard type. For this immediate outcome along the line of 
justice, we have to thank especially Mr. Theo. Hewes, the Sec- 
retary, and Mr. \Y. J. Patton. I hope I v their 
appreciation by sending a good da 

There is really no limit, as things promise at present, to the 
helpful future of the Indian Runner. T . has been ship- 

ping a few duck eggs in late winter, the best being schedule*-: 
"Baltimore eggs," at wonderfully good prices. She would be 
missing the greatest new, farm opportunity that has ever been 
offered her did she not add the Indian Runner to her helpers, and 
! more duck eggs through the channel already open. She 
sees it, I know, for inquir th multi; 

Under date of March 6, 1910, "The Egg Reporter" quoted 
22y 2 c and 23c, "the lowest price so far this season" on hens' 
eggs, fresh gathered firsts. At the same time, ducks' eggs were 

*4* 



referred to as "beginning to move ; the best coming from Balti- 
more, and these bring 42c." If as the New York dealer assured 
me, New York market, even now, will average 35c a dozen for 
ducks' eggs, the year around, the 180-egg duck will bring in 
$5.25. Who would ask a better investment? 

An attempt was made by a Northern breeder to influence 
the future of the Indian Runner in this country by sending a 
pen of the Penciled, white-egg English-bred type to the National 
Competition in Missouri, just beginning its work with the month 
this book goes to press. Once more, the Express Companies 
killed the hopes of one of their patrons, as they have done in 
thousands of instances before. The birds were nearly all 
smothered en route, and thus was the Penciled Runner hindered 
from showing her pace in utility work. It had been hoped that 
a test in this country might settle many questions now open to 
difference of opinion. 



142 



The Newer Variety, 
The White Runner 



CHAPTER XVI 

The future of the Indian Runners must, of course, include 
the variety just coming into popularity here, viz., the White 
Runners. Though but recently advertised for the first in this 
country, the White Runners promise to interest the public at 
large so greatly that they deserve accented notice. In Califor- 
nia, in the middle-west, in the middle states, they are already 
being advertised. Last year, I said: "One cannot say much 
that is definite about their quality, as it is likely, it seems to me, 
to be exceedingly 'spotty' for some time." 

My reasons for thinking this lay largely in the fact that 
the very evident crossing of some of the original importations of 
Indian Runners with white ducks had resulted in so many badly- 
mixed specimens, showing much broken white, of which buyers 
of Indian Runners complained so bitterly. There cannot be 
much doubt that very many White Runners have arisen through 
some of these crosses. The most likely cross is that of the 
White Pekin duck. I saw Pekins in a recent very large show, 
that were as upright in carriage as almost any of the Runners, 
and one specimen in especial that was fully as erect in carriage 
as any Indian Runner I had ever seen shown. As the Revision 
Committee's recommendation for Pekins at St. Louis was for 
a body one-fourth longer than the ideal presented them by the 

H3 



artist, and a clean-cut throat without dewlap, the Pekin will be 
even better than in the past, as a promising foundation for a 
cross leading to White Runners. A Runner built on such a 
foundation would be too broad and thick-set, for many genera- 
tions, no doubt; but human nature is such that it would doubt- 
less be used, in the future, as it has in the past, if pointers from 
experience can be at all relied upon. 

I wish to call especial attention to the cut of a White Run- 
ner female given herewith. It is by far the most typical speci- 
men of the Ideal Indian Runner, that I have yet seen. This 
bird is, moreover, a straight sport, as far as anything I really 
know can show. I do know that no white blood has been in- 
troduced into her ancestry since it came into my hands, some 
years ago. Other breeding experience would make any of us 
argue that there might be white blood somewhere behind her. 
As to proof, — there is none, and the testimony of her beautiful 
shape seems to throw the Pekin out of consideration, unless, by 
some trick of Mendel's law, we have a dominant white from the 
Pekin, in connection with a dominant shape from a Runner 
ancestor. But I think Mendel's law, as he would have had it 
applied, is being more questioned now than ever before since 
Professor Bateson brought it to our notice. That is, the many 
investigation experiments, in the effort to prove it a breeding 
law, seem to show it less helpful generally in breeding than was 
at first expected. Besides, it is a known fact that all colored 
breeds sometimes "sport" into white. 

These White Runners are not an absolutely new product 
except in possible specific cases. Mr. H. DeCourcy, speaking 
of the Runners as they appeared in Ireland some years ago, 
wrote, in the Reliable Poultry Journal, that the Runners had 
been bred for several years by farmers, with no regard to type 
and feathering. Yet he stated that the distinctive features of 
the bird were so fixed that they still tended to dominate. I noticed 
that he referred to the "carriage" as penguin-like, not making 
the blunder of the American 1905 Standard in saying that the 
Form is like the penguin, which is positively absurd ! 

He spoke of three distinct varieties at the time of writing, 
known in Ireland, and said that the penciled fawn and white — "a 
beautifully-/>£wa/^ fawn color," as he described it — "certainly 
has a distinctive shape and carriage which the other varieties 

144 




5 



a 

<v 



possess but in a modified form, and it is most probable that both 
the Brown-and-White and the White varieties have been bred 
from the original Fawn-and- White, either by the admixture of 
foreign blood, or by selection, or by both." 

This testimony must be considered by any fair mind as 
absolutely unbiased, because it was given before our Standard- 
makers discovered that the plain fawn, with white, was "the one 
and only true." It was published in this country before there 
was any question of breeding to a solid fawn as far as our Stand- 
ard was concerned ; though our Standard was fitted to some 
sports in the hands of a single breeder, — if I am correctly in- 
formed, — soon after. 

Last year, I said in the first edition of the Indian Runner 
Duck Book: "The white bird, everywhere and always, is a 
popular bird. And, as soon as the public is assured that it 
breeds true in any measure, we may look for a strong movement 
toward the White Runner." 

The march of events is already showing my 1910 prediction 
just. One breeder of the W r hite Runners calls them "the com- 
ing duck of America"; another says: "It seems to have out- 
classed its parent in the matter of egg production and in the 
production of pure white eggs." (Its parent, from this point 
of view, being the American Standard Runner). Also: "as a 
fancy fowl, for pleasure and profit, I doubt if there is any other 
that has ever proved itself the equal of the White Runner Duck." 

To be sure, these are the words of lovers and advertisers 
of the variety. But even T. F. McGrew, the prominent judge 
and head of a Correspondence Department in a widely-known 
system of schools, voiced something of the same opinion re- 
cently in a private letter, when he said : "I believe that the most 
popular of all Runners will be the White Runner Ducks." He 
also referred to the fact that breeders are dropping the adjective 
"Indian," in this variety, with commendation. 

With reference to the varying quality of White Runners, I 
might mention a report that came over from England concern- 
ing some which were exhibited there last autumn. The regular 
correspondent of "The Feathered World" (the most highly re- 
garded English poultry periodical, I believe) said, with regard 
to those appearing at the Crystal Palace Show (England), after 
describing the new "Upright Mysteries," or "Fairy Fawns," as 

145 



some call them: "As to the Whites, penned alongside the ex- 
tremes above named, perhaps it's scarcely fair to criticise. Com- 
parisons may be unfair. I can, however, now see the force of 
the proposed sprinting contests; the 'made in Germany' frater- 
nity might very well benefit by a trot around alongside the 'up- 
rights.' Still, they are under way, and no doubt in a few years 
we may see them as perfect in soda-water-bottle character as 
the winners of to-day, when even the orthodox 'Fawn and whites' 
had to take a back seat." 

This indicates that far the best birds seen in England to 
date are the "fairy fawns," and not the 'orthodox' Fawns, nor 
the Whites. Where the first sport of the Whites was an ex- 
ceptionally good bird, the progeny has a chance to be better than 
most of the Fawns. When not exceptional, the progeny is likely 
to be common-place also. 

A large group was shown in photograph in one of the widely- 
circulated poultry magazines a few weeks before this writing. 
In this flock appear a few birds of extra-fine carriage!; in it, 
also, appear a goodly number of the kind one would rather not 
have intending customers see. This shows that even the best 
breeders do not have all good birds, and that to buy of any one 
simply because he is known to have some good specimens and 
not knowing anything about the actual birds one is buying, is too 
likely to prove a fiasco. 

Earlier, I had thought it probable that quality in the White 
Runner might be a thing difficult to secure at once. But a cor- 
respondent sent me a photograph a few days before this is writ- 
ten, showing, I think, a more beautiful bird, for type, than I 
have ever yet seen at the shows in any one of the three varieties, 
— a picture, indeed, of white loveliness. I am exceedingly sorry, 
from one point of view, that this book is to come out before 
the great shows of 1911-1912, as I think the Runner alleys in 
these shows will be wonderfully interesting, this season. I am 
hoping, both that the management in general will give us classes 
for White Runners and the penciled, English type, and that 
breeders will make haste to fill them with good specimens. 

The White Runner has been described in at least one 
American periodical as having a full breast, with more meat than 
the original Runners carried. From the fancy point of view, I 
think that to breed thus to a fuller breast would be a mistake. 

146 



I happen to have personal data upon this very point, because 
many of the very best (otherwise) of my penciled Runners 
have had this full breast. It makes a pretty bird, but not one 
so distinctive as the original type called for in the English Stand- 
ard, and shown in our American Standard by Mr. A. O. Schilling. 
The birds from painting in R. P. J. for September, 191 1, look 
to have fuller breasts by reason of being a trifle thinner just 
below the breast. Frankly, these birds give me the impression 
of woodeny decoy ducks. A group in the owner's catalogue is 
decidedly more beautiful. 

These birds, and the "ideal" birds shown in the American 
Standard of Perfection, stand at an angle of 45 degrees. 
The English ideal is 55 to 65 degrees when in motion, and 65 
to 75 degrees when on the alert. I believe that there are few 
in this country that will reach 55 to 65 degrees when in motion; 
but I have seen birds easily reach 75 degrees when on the alert, 
and they were reported from the Crystal Palace Show in Eng- 
land last year as reaching practically 90 degrees! These were, 
however, from the "new blood from the native source" recently 
acquired and bred in there, and I presume this country can show 
nothing quite equal to it, even in an instantaneous pose. I have, 
indeed, seen birds "stand on end," as it is expressed, and other 
breeders have told me they had them. But I cannot see all the 
flocks of the country, and no pictures yet sent me show such 
an extreme pose. The American Standard gives no definite 
rules for carriage, the nearest it comes to this being in the words, 
"carried erectly." 

White Runners are reported now in hand that have laid 
unceasingly for more than a year, eight of the eggs being equal 
in weight to a dozen hens' eggs. Why should any one question 
the equal value of the White Runner with the original fawn and 
white sorts? Of the two variations in blood in this country 
of which I have knowledge, one is, / know, a sport; the other 
also claims to be a sport. The White Runners are also said to 
be more valuable than the original types. If they are, in my 
opinion it is simply because, at the present time, they will bring 
higher prices. As to actual, intrinsic value, I doubt if either 
the white or the penciled excels the other by the value of a 
copper. Both are "gold-mines" for the people who have skill in 
handling and skill in marketing, be it as utility birds or as the 

147 



fanciest of the fancy, and the charmingest of the charming. In 
the last, however, the lovely white variety is a lap or two ahead 
of its blood-rival, the sprightly fawn and white. These who 
think "trimmings" add to the beauty of all things, may possibly 
convince themselves that the fawns with their liberal trimmings 
of white, are the lovelier. 

One breeder says of the whites: "They seem to fill the 
long- felt want for a fowl that is easy to rear, one that grows 
rapidly and matures at an early age, one that produces eggs both 
summer and winter, and a fowl that can live on almost any kind 
of food. Such a one we have in the White Runner duck." She 
continues, "I can conscientiously recommend this new variety," 
and says that those who raise it will be in the happy condition 
of never waiting for either eggs or spending money in the purse. 

In some quarters, there has been much doubt as to the kind 
of bird the new, White Runner might be. Suspicion seemed 
to forecast that it was likely to have outside blood. It is, as I 
have said, no doubt, possible that this may be true of some 
strains — if such they can be called. A sample of this feeling 
reached me in July of 191 1, from one who had seen a cut of 
Somebody's White Runners, so-called. He wrote: 

"I don't think I care for any White Runners; the head is 
too large, the neck too thick, the body too short, the breast 
prominent, and carriage bad; in fact, it lacks about every char- 
acteristic we look for in a Runner. It would seem that there 
is now, and will be almost as much danger of breeders using 
foreign blood to get white ducks as there has been to get solid 
light fawn and white ducks." 

This does not look like a man who would invest early in 
White Runners. Yet, having found a breeder whose word he 
was willing to trust, he bought a start in White Runners in the 
following September. His first letter, after their receipt, was 
of this tenor: "I am very much pleased with the White Run- 
ners. All that I have seen heretofore and all the cuts that I 
have gotten hold of have shown such coarse, angular birds that 
I had almost concluded that I didn't want any White Runners 
in mine. However, I felt sure that — — would either breed 
good ones or he would not breed any, and you can tell him from 
me that I have no kick coming on White Runners." 

Judging from the way they have been received thus far by 

148 



those who know of the better types, I think it quite safe to say 
that their popularity will distance that of the parti-colored 
varieties. In the premium list of the Southern International 
Poultry Association scheduled for December, 191 1, special high 
first prizes of $10.00 for singles have been given to sixteen of 
the most popular varieties. Among the sixteen appear both the 
American Standard Runners and the English penciled type! 
This is the first long step ahead in the matter of justice to the 
penciled Runners. I congratulate the managers, and especially 
the Secretary, Mr. Loring Brown, who was largely instrumental 
in having this action taken. 

[A few days later, Mr. Theo. Hewes, Secretary of the great 
Chicago Show, announced that Chicago would make a class for 
"the Penciled Runners. This gave great encouragement to those 
breeding to the English Standard and will help to keep a true 
source of supply for the farms. During the same week, word 
came to me that the Runners with original native blood would 
surely be shown at Madison Square Garden in December, 191 1.] 

Some have ventured to inquire, rather timidly, as to the com- 
parative productive capacity and vigor of the White variety. 
As to vigor, shown by fertility, I may say that I have known 
the White Runners to produce eggs running to nearly 100 per 
cent of fertility for months in succession. An occasional sitting 
would give 100 per cent of ducklings. This is as good as any 
variety of duck or of hen will do. The Wliite Runner is not, 
of course, thoroughly tested in this country. But when she is a 
sport, I know no reason why she should not be equal in all re- 
spects to her fawn progenitors. 

As to beauty and charm, a customer recently wrote me, after 
several months' experience with the White Runners : "I do 
not think there is anything else in birds that can be so enchanting 
as the White Runner." 

At the present time, the older variety has been so widely 
advertised, has made small fortunes for so many, and has so 
caught the public fancy through its style, that it has the greater 
call, by far. But, inasmuch as the white bird has ever been 
the favored one in American eyes, and inasmuch as it has 
greater beauty with at least equal utility qualities, I look for 
the W r hite Runner to sweep the decks as soon as there are enough 
of them to fill the demand. 

149 



As to the possibility of filling it at the present time, a letter 
recently received puts the situation very clearly: 

"I have found it difficult," writes this stranger, "to keep 
what I needed for my own pens. But friends in California have 
been successful in their 'beggings' — and begging it really seems 
to be out there, as breeders simply refuse all offers — and I am 
having forty birds come on, from which I shall select for myself 
some new matings." When it has come to buyers begging to be 
allowed to pay "any price" for birds and then not getting them, 
it promises well for the White Runner, as an investment. 

The White Runner, having, when descended from sports, all 
the effort toward high breeding of many years behind her in 
her ancestry, has the possibility of improving with great rapidity. 
I do not hesitate to say that one who starts with Indian Run- 
ners will do infinitely better to get one good pair rather than 
six pairs of average birds, even though the pair cost as much 
as the other six pairs. Probably this is true of all fancy fowls. 
I know it to be true of the White Runner. 

Mr. Scott, who claims the highest Qgg record of the world, 
makes the public statement that he considers the loss of 24 duck- 
lings out of 35 in his first season with his present birds as the 
best thing that could have happened to him, since the few left 
comprised the famous heavy layer, so that most of his stock 
came from her. To get all one's stock, from the beginning, from 
an extra layer or an extra-good exhibition specimen of extra 
vigor is the one thing that may count most for the beginner. 
It saves him from many years of up-hill work in trying to breed 
up to the good specimens. 

As to ornamental quality, there is nothing in nature more 
lovely and charming than white water fowl playing on the 
water. The swans have been considered most attractive orna- 
ments since time immemorial. Men have bought white domestic 
fowls wherewith to ornament the lawns of their country places, 
merely for the beauty of the contrast. The White Embden 
Goose and the White Chinese variety have also been much used 
as ornamental fowls. But the White Indian Runner, slimmer, 
graceful as a fawn, distinctive in shape and carriage, bids fair 
to become infinitely more popular than either the goose or even 
the swan could ever become. 

Altogether, it seems to me that the most beautiful and dis- 
tinctive fancy fowl ever offered to the American public is the 
charming White Runner Duck. 

150 



JAW 4 1912 



One copy del. to Cat. Div. 



JAN 4 



